Following the Union Cabinet’s green signal to form the Telangana State in Andhra Pradesh, the Kosal Kranti Dal (KKD) has upped its ante in support of a new statehood to Kosalanchal comprising 10 districts of western Odisha, one sub-division (Athamalik) and two blocks (Kashipur and Chandahandi).
In a Press briefing here on Friday, KKD working president Baidyanath Mishra, justifying the demand of separate Kosal State, questioned if Telengana could be formed along with 20 other States since Independence, why cannot Kosal, especially when the demand is most genuineIJ He further said with the support of the people of Jharkhand to the JMM, Bihar was divided. Similarly, with support of Telangana people to TRS, Telangana will see the light of the day. Hence, the support of the Kosalanchal to KKD would lead to the formation of Kosal, Mishra claimed. Citing the report of a leading news paper’s survey, Mishra said out of 50 opinions it took, 49 advocated in favour of the Kosal State.
Justifying his demand for Kosal, Mishra said the region has a common historic and cultural background. It is geographically separated from coastal Odisha and economically and politically marginalised. It has witnessed the worst kind of human tragedy ever since the Gadjat was merged with coastal Odisha in 1948 with the signing of the treaty of succession much against the wish of the people. He referred to migration of labour, starvation death, farmer suicide, child selling, women trafficking, distressed sale of paddy and utter negligence of the Government to the region in every sector and said the KKD cannot bear any more the suppression of the genuine demand of 1.5 crore people for a separate State.
On a future action plan, Mishra said the KKD would go for railroko on Friday at Rourkela, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Balangir and Bargarh and very soon a delegation would be visiting Delhi to renew the demand of a separate State. He reiterated the statement of Union Minister of State for Home Jitendra Singh regarding the induction of Kosal among 11 probable separate States in last Parliament Session. Mishra congratulated Balangir MP Kalikesh Narayan Singhdeo and former MP Sriballav Panigrahi for their statement to resolve smaller States’ issue by constitution of the States Re-organisation Commission (SRC).
He also urged the State Government to table a report of Justice SK Mohanty Commission on regional imbalance in Assembly as the Government has been sitting over it for more than two years. Regarding political activities of KKD, Mishra said his party would participate in the 2014 elections and there is every possibility of alliance with likeminded regional parties. He also expressed surprise over the attitude of local leaders of BJP who are blowing hot and cold on Kosal issue though their national leaders are in favour of separate small States.