Bhubaneswar: A farmers’ organisation has called for an eight-hour Odisha bandh on January 28 to protest alleged irregularities in paddy procurement, penalties under the Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) system, and what it terms arbitrary actions by Tata Power on electricity tariffs and smart meters.
The Navnirman Krushak Sangathan (NNKS), which has called for the strike from 6 am to 2 pm, said the shutdown is meant to highlight difficulties faced by farmers and the public due to administrative lapses and rising costs.
“We will observe an Odisha bandh on January 28 from 6 am to 2 pm in protest against irregularities in mandis, the PUCC system, and the installation of smart meters by Tata Power. Emergency services will remain operational,” said Akshay Kumar, national coordinator of the organisation.
He added that rail roko protests may also be held at some railway stations, which could lead to brief disruptions in train services in parts of the state.
The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee has extended its support to the bandh. OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das said all district Congress units have been asked to support the shutdown and participate in the protest in a peaceful manner.
Das said the issues raised by the farmers’ group are linked to public interest. He also referred to the party’s ongoing protests against what it describes as the scrapping of MGNREGS, saying rural livelihoods have been affected.
The Bharatiya Janata Party criticised the bandh call. BJP spokesperson Manoj Mahapatra termed it a “fake farmers’ movement” and claimed the organisation lacks grassroots support. He alleged that the Congress is using the group as a proxy to mobilise people.
Mahapatra said farmers were neglected during the previous BJD government, while middlemen benefited. He claimed that farmers are now being encouraged under the Mohan Majhi-led BJP government and said the bandh would have little impact across the state.
Normal life in several areas is expected to be affected during the shutdown period, though emergency services are expected to function as usual.
