Kosal Discussion and Development Forum

Campaign for Koshal state intensifies in Orissa

January 11, 2010 at 5:35 pm sanjibkarmee Leave a comment

Following is a report from http://www.expressbuzz.com:

BALANGIR: Koshal Kranti Dal (KKD) has intensified its campaign for a separate Koshal state. The KKD has even roped in students as a rallying point for the cause. 

As many as 500 activists were arrested today across western Orissa while staging rail rokos. In Balangir alone around 160 activists were arrested while three trains were stopped. The members of KKD and All Koshal Student Union (AKSU) participated in the rail roko.  

On Friday, the AKSU activists had burnt Planning and Co-ordination Minister A U Singhdeo and WODC chairman Niranjan Panda in effigies for reportedly speaking against Koshal state demand. Pramod Mishra, president of KKD, said, ‘’We are trying to bring the movement to its logical conclusion. All our activists are now ready to intensify the struggle and we are going to gain mass support soon.” Justifying the stance, Mishra said the Ghadei Commission admitted that western Orissa was neglected for which WODC was formed. If the commission admitted neglect of western Orissa, then what is wrong in demanding a separate state? he argued.  

“This is not a political stunt nor is the movement personality-centric. For the development of this region, a separate state is the need of the hour,” asserted Mishra.  

SAMBALPUR: The KKD activists led by Sambalpur district KKD president Upendra Mohapatra staged a rail roko at Sambalpur Road Railway Station today. The impasse ended after police personnel detained the activists.  

Similarly, a rail roko was also staged in Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Kesinga and Boinda railway stations disrupting movement of trains. 

Earlier, KKD had threatened to launch a series of agitations across western Orissa seeking Koshal state.  

The KKD has called western Orissa bandh in the last week of January and a series of NH blockades across the region in February. 

Entry filed under: Demand by political parties, Demand by politicians, Demand by Students Union, Demand of Koshal state, Views of Political Parties and Politicians, Why a separate Koshal state in India?.