Congress KBK Bandh Affects Normal Life

KORAPUT: The Odisha unit of Congress on Saturday observed dawn-to-dusk bandh in eight undivided KBK districts demanding proper implementation of Forest Rights Act, 2006 in the state.

The Congress also protested the arrest of former Nabarangapur MP Pradeep Majhi and his associates.

The bandh call has affected the normal life of people. Congress has given bandh call in eight districts- Kalahandi, Balangir, Koraput, Sonepur, Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri and Rayagada.

Senior Congress leader and former Kalahandi MP Bhakta Das said the state government has failed to provide land Pattas to the tribal people in the state.

He said the state government had betrayed the tribal people by giving only Pattas while there was no identification of land.

“While the Congress party protested the inefficiency of the government, it sent the Congress leaders to jail to suppress the voice of people,” he added.

He said UPA government had implemented the Forest Rights Act for the benefit of tribals, which was misutilised in Odisha.

However, BJD refuted the allegations.

Former Minister and senior BJD leader Rabinarayan Nanda said the Congress party is shedding crocodile tears.

Maintaining that the Naveen Patnaik-government is always with the tribals, he said the bandh call given by the opposition party has no effect in KBK districts.