Odisha: BJD neither opposing nor supporting bandh called by Congress

Bhubaneswar | The ruling Biju Janata Dal in Odisha has said that it is neither opposing nor supporting the ‘Bharat Bandh’ called by the Congress on Monday to protest the hike in fuel prices.

BJD spokesman Samir Ranjan Das “We are not supporting nor opposing the Bharat Bandh.” He, however, said the state government has already announced holiday of schools on Monday keeping in view the safety of children.

School and Mass Education Department Secretary P K Mohapatra, in a letter to district collectors, had said that all schools, both government and private, should remain shut on Monday. The state government had also directed all district collectors to take preventive measures to maintain law and order and ensure maintenance of essential services in the districts during the planned strike.

The Congress Sunday requested the ruling BJD to suspend proceedings of the state Assembly till 3 pm in view of the strike. Odisha Congress president Niranjan Patnaik called upon the BJD to suspend the proceeding of the Odisha Assembly till 3 pm if it “sincerely oppose” the price hike of petrol, diesel and cooking gas.

Patnaik said the party has instructed the party rank and file to maintain peace during the bandh and keep students appearing examinations, ambulance, medicine stores and other essential services out of the ambit of the bandh.

“Our activists will conduct bandh between 6 am till 3 pm in Odisha. The party seeks cooperation of the people of the state,” Patnaik told reporters here. Patnaik said the party MLAs would not attend the Assembly on Monday as they would participate in the Bharat Bandh.

Meanwhile, all the Left parties comprising CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML), Forward Block, SUCI and others have announced to organise a “hartal” on Monday which coincides with the ‘Bharat Bandh’ called by the Congress.