Posts filed under ‘Demand by Bar Association’
Limitations of Koshal state movement
Koshal state demand is valid. Nevertheless, many Koshal activists are ignoring the limitations of Koshal movement. Here are few limitations that are hindering the separate state movement:
Location of future capital city: When Telangana state was created there was no confusion about the location of its capital. People of Telangana unanimously supported Hyderabad as the capital of Telangana. Chandra Babu learned from his past mistakes. He is now building a new capital city that will benefit whole AP. In case of Koshal demand, so far, there is no clarity about its future capital city. People of Sambalpur want their district HQ as the capital city; whereas, Balangir/Kalahandi people want their own district HQs as the capital city. In future, such demands will come up from other districts as well.
Decentralization of resources in western Odisha: So far, we are debating about centralization of resources in BBSR. Many people in western Odisha (especially in KBK region) are asking what about centralization of resources in Sambalpur and Rourkela. Western Odisha (WO) is following a similar developmental approach like coastal Odisha and Bengal; where only big cities like Bhubaneswar and Kolkata are developing. Is centralization of resources in WO benefiting the tribals of Kalahandi, Balangir, Nuapada, Sonepur, Boudh etc,?
Politics vs economics: The activists and politicians who are heading the Koshal state movement lack of clear understanding about politics, politicking and economics. Koshal state demand should be based on economics and distribution of resources. Both the activists and politicians are unable to explain how a separate Koshal state will benefit livelihood of poor and the village economy. Thus, most of them are losing political supports and support from common man.
A separate Koshal state must not follow the example of Odisha and Bengal. These two states are worse when it comes to decentralization of resources. Still, the elite of western Odisha are following similar approaches. I hope the activists and politicians will address the limitations of Koshal state movement.
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Dr. Sanjib Kumar Karmee
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Update 1: Response to my post from Saket Sahu
The points you have noted are right. But these points are futuristic point. I mean it may not be the cause of slow down of the movement. The reasons in the ground are very different.
It is for sure that it is a political issue. Forget about the economy for the time being. Recently a seminar was organised by Mahamallik babu and his friends at Anchal College Padampur and i attended as a speaker to present on the language. Also listened some of the speakers including Mahamallik babu and it was really great that scholars of our region come out with all graphics and data to explain the backward/poverty of western Odisha/Kosal region.
It is true that the coastal Odisha is developed than western odisha. And the BJD govt was showing all the data from western Odisha and demanding SWATANTRA PAHYAA (SPECIAL PACKAGE) FOR THE STATE. But it was crushed down in parliament.
Now, come to Kosal. Though i support the Kosal movement still i also agree with the view of AC Naik on Kosal leadership. The youth and people are divided by party. BJP, BJD, Cogress. KKD has failed to impress the youth or mass. I’m repeating the leader need to address why we need Kosal to the mass. There we have failed.
Apart from this, there are many complex reasons which stagnate Kosal movement.
If i will write here openly then people may hate me. Thats why i remain silent on this. Now the movement is in cold storage. It can be revive. Not a big issue but interest of leaders are important. The Kosal movement leaders are now looking to join other political parties for their future.
Spontaneous bandh in western Odisha gave a hint on the public anger observes Bijay Chaki
Following excerpt is from a TNIE report:
The spontaneous bandh on August 26 in Western Odisha districts over the demand of a separate Koshala state seems to suggest that the tide is turning away from the BJD. Several senior leaders from the area maintained that the Koshala state demand does not have many followers in the area, but the successful bandh gave a hint on the public anger against the ruling party for ignoring the demand of the Western districts always, including a permanent bench of the High Court.
Demand for Koshal state: TOI report on western Odisha bandh
BHUBANESWAR: The 12-hour bandh call given by various outfits, demanding a separate Koshal state, paralyzed normal life in western Odisha on Monday, even as lawyers in the region continued with their agitation pressing for high court benches.
While road transport came to a grinding halt in most parts, train services were partly affected. Majority of the educational institutions, government offices and commercial establishments remained closed for the day in 10 districts. No untoward incident was reported from any part of the state, police said.
“It was a complete and spontaneous bandh as most social outfits, citizen bodies, caste societies and students in the region extended their support to the bandh,” Kosal State Coordination Committee leader Pramod Mishra told TOI.
Activists were seen picketing in Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Bargarh, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Deogarh, Sonepur, Boudh and Balangir districts. Markets, banks and other government offices remained closed while several heavy vehicles were stranded on highways passing through the region.
The Sambalpur-Puri Intercity was stalled at Sambalpur Road station for about two hours as activists blocked the railway tracks. Trains passing in the region got delayed by two to four hours, sources said. In Bargarh, activists blocked the road by burning tyres.
The bandh evoked mixed response in Rourkela. While Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) functioned as usual, movement of private vehicles in the city was normal. However, educational institutions and markets largely remained closed.
In Bhawanipatna, buses remained off the road as the Kalahandi Bus Association supported the bandh. However, government schools and banks remained open. Market and business establishments downed shutters in most parts of Kalahandi.
Meanwhile, advocates continued their stir seeking HC benches in their respective areas. In a meeting convened by Sambalpur Bar Association (SBA), all political parties resolved to boycott the urban election if the State Election Commission starts the nomination process again during the indefinite agitation period. “The political parties have resolved not to field candidates during the agitation period even if the election commission re-notify dates for the civic poll,” SBA secretary S S Sahu said.
(With inputs from Sambalpur, Rourkela and Jharsuguda)
Various maps of the proposed “Kosal state”
A recent outlook report suggests that India should have 50 states. One of such demand is the bifurcation of Odisha state in to Odisha and Kosal state. It is clear from various news reports that there is a growing demand in the western Odisha for the formation of Kosal state. After a bit of search in the “Google image” , I found the following maps of the proposed “Kosal state”.
Orissa’s Regional Party Demands For Separate Koshal State
Following is a report from http://www.india-server.com:
Orissa’s regional party Kosala Kranti Dal carried out a peaceful demonstration in the state asking for separate Kosal state that would contain 11 districts of Orissa. The rally included more than 1,000 activists.
They assembled near the state assembly building carrying banners and posters. They carried on their march on the main street of state capital Bhubaneswar. Police officer Utkal Keshari Das said, “Over 1,000 people staged a peaceful demonstration.”
The party demanded for a new state that shall have the districts of Bargarh, Bolangir, Boudh, Deogarh, Nuapada, Sambalpur, Subarnapur, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Koraput, and Sundergarh. In the later part, the party conducted a public meeting wherein a number of speakers stressed the problems encountered by these regions on account of negligence from both the state and central government.
Party head Pramod Mishra said in his address, “We have separate Kosali language. Our culture and traditions are different. Our regions are the poorest in India despite having huge mineral and forest wealth.” He added, “Only a separate Kosal state can improve the condition of our people.”
Kosal state’s demand came into force since the central government approved to carve out Telangana from Andhra Pradesh.
Indian media giant CNN-IBN writes about Koshal state
CNN-IBN reports about the separate Koshal state demand. It writes, Orissa’s turn: Thousands stage rally for Koshal state.
Thousands stage rally near the state assembly for a separate Koshal state
Following is a report from IANS, taken from www.thaindian.com:
Bhubaneswar, Dec 23 (IANS) More than 1,000 activists of Orissa’s regional party Kosala Kranti Dal Wednesday staged a peaceful demonstration here, demanding a separate statehood comprising the state’s 11 districts, police said.
The activists gathered near the state assembly building and marched on a main street of state capital Bhubaneswar, carrying posters and banners.
“Over 1,000 people staged a peaceful demonstration,” police officer Utkal Keshari Das told IANS.
A public meeting was later held in which dozens of speakers of the regional party described how their regions were continuously neglected by the state and central governments.
“We have separate Kosali language. Our culture and traditions are different. Our regions are the poorest in India despite having huge mineral and forest wealth,” party head Pramod Mishra said in his address.
“Only a separate Kosal state can improve the condition of our people,” he said.
The demand for separate state of Kosal picked momentum in Orissa after the central government decided to carve Telangana out of Andhra Pradesh.
The Kosala Kranti Dal wants a new state comprising the districts of Bargarh, Bolangir, Boudh, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Koraput, Nuapada, Sambalpur, Subarnapur and Sundergarh.
These districts suffer from poverty, malnutrition, high infant mortality rate and backwardness.
Balangir Bar extends support for Koshal State
Following is a report from The Pioneer:
Supporting the demand for a separate Kosal State, the District Bar Association of Balangir adopted a resolution on Saturday evening. In an emergency meeting which was attended by Bar president Jagannath Acharya, secretary Asit Kumar Sarangi and other members, the Bar association adopted a resolution to this effect and decided to submit a proposal in this regard to the Union Government.
Moreover, it also demanded for establishment of the capital of Kosal State in the centre of western Orissa. In the pre-independence period there was the princely Kosal State which comprised of Sareikela, Kharsuan and other princely States, the members said.
Maps of separate Koshal state distributed in Orissa
Following is a report from IANS taken from http://www.thaindian.com:
Bhubaneswar, Dec 18 (IANS) The Kosala Kranti Dal, a political party in Orissa which has been demanding separate statehood comprising 11 western districts, Friday distributed maps of its dream state to people.
The maps were distributed in the district headquarter of Bolangir, its president Pramod Mishra told IANS. He said the maps would also be distributed in other parts of the western region in the next few days. Bolangir town is 320 km from here.
Hundreds of students in Sambalpur, Bargarh and Bolangir towns boycotted classes and walked streets with posters and banners, and shouted slogans in favour of a separate state.
Mishra said his Dal has planned to launch a massive agitation in the coming days to press its demand. “We are going to demonstrate in Bhubaneswar in front of Raj Bhaban on Dec 23,” he said.
The demand for separate state has picked up momentum in Orissa following the central government’s decision to pave the way for a Telangana state in Andhra Pradesh.
The Kosala Kranti Dal wants a new state comprising the districts of Bargarh, Bolangir, Boudh, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Koraput, Nuapada, Sambalpur, Subarnapur and Sundergarh.
Known as the Kosala region, these districts suffer from poverty and backwardness, deaths due to malnutrition and high infant mortality rate.
Kosal Discussion and Development Forum 