In view of inconveniences caused to students and public, Finance and Agriculture Minister Sashi Bhusan Behera strongly condemned the Odisha Bandh called by the Navnirman Krishak Sangathan (NKS) on Thursday.
He termed the State-wide shutdown as “unfortunate”.
“Without being concerned about the students appearing in the examinations today as well as the students who will appear in the Matric examination tomorrow, the bandh call is unfortunate.
It is even more unfortunate that two national political parties (BJP and Congress) extended their support to the agitation not caring about the students’ future,” the Minister told media.
He said the State Government had appealed to the farmers’ body not to observe the bandh just a day before the commencement of annual matriculation examination.
However, the NKS members remained firm on their decision without taking time to consider the benefits under the KALIA scheme, he rued.
“As the Finance Minister, I had discussed with the organisation on the road with a hope that the NKS would cooperate with the Government in implementing the KALIA scheme,” Behera added.