Even as the entire Odisha is observing its formation day with pomp and gaiety, yet in a related development, the members of Kosal State Coordination Committee led by Pramod Mishra and others on Saturday staged protest before the collectorate by hoisting black flags and tearing Odisha map.
The speakers criticised the leaders of coastal Odisha who cheated the people of western Odisha with the promise of all-round development once merged with State of Odisha.
After the merger with the State of Odisha, rather than bringing development, Balangir like other western Odisha region, was exploited like any thing, they alleged.
On April 1, in entire Kosalanchal people have observed Utkal Divas as Black Day. The people in Balangir also observed Black Day and wore black badge as a mark of protest, said Mishra. “We demand formation of separate Kosal State under Article 2 and 3 of the Constitution .Once separate Kosal State is formed, it would ensure all-round development of the region,” Mishra added.