Bharat bandh cripples normal life in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, Jan 8 (UNI) Normal life was badly affected in odisha today due to two
day nationwide strike called by various trade unions protesting against the anti labour
policy of the BJP led NDA government at the centre.
Business establishments were closed and vehicles were off the road while banks
and insurance offices were closed due to the bandh.
Train services were also affected as the bandh supporters squatted on the railway
tracks at various railway stations.
Educational institutions were closed all over Odisha as the state government
declared closure of all educational institutions for the day today to avoid any
unpleasant situation during the bandh.
The ruling Biju Janata Dal and the Congress in the state have extended their
support to the Bharat Bandh call but did not participate in bandh.
The state unit of the BJP today gheraoed the state secretariat demanding bonus
to the farmers as promised by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, opening of mandis
for procurement of paddy from the farmers and expressing concern over distress
sale by the farmers across the state .
The BJP Kishan Morcha activists burnt the effigy of the Chief Minister in protest
against the BJD government’s complete failure to protect the interest of the farmers
in the state
On the other hand, the Kishan cell of the Congress went in a procession to the
Governor house and submitted a three point charter of demands –a bonus of
Rs.750 to the farmers ,waiving of firm loan and hike the MSP for paddy to Rs 2930.
The Congress activists slammed both the ruling BJD and the NDA government
for ignoring the plights of the farmers .
The ruling BJD today staged a demonstration called “Krushak Adhikar Samavesh”
at the Talkotra stadium in New Delhi attended by party’s MPs, Ministers, MLAs and
senior party leaders demanding hike in the MSP for paddy as recommended by the
M S Swaminathan committee.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik addressed the gatherings and attacked the BJP
for not hiking the MSP for paddy as promised in the party’s election manifesto in
2014.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee President Niranjan Patnaik dubbed the
BJD’s samavesh at New Delhi as a picnic party of Rs.52 lakh and said if the BJD
is really concerned about the farmers plight it should provide bonus to the farmers
as given by the Chhatisgarh government
Reports reaching here said the bandh supporters blocked the national highway
at many places crippling the movement of the vehicles.
Hundreds of heavy vehicles were seen stranded on the National highway due
to blocking of the national highways by the band supporters.
Several long distance trains were detained at various stations due to the
squatting of the bandh supporters on the railway tracks since early this morning.