Rourkela youth Muktikanta Biswal who was in a hunger strike for the last four days in Ramlila Maidan in demand of an appointment with the Prime Minister called off his stir after the request from Baba Balia.
Similarly, Gopal Jena who was on hunger strike from Monday in support of Muktikanta also called off the strike after the request of the Rourkela Bar Association.
But sources said after Muktikanta arrives in Rourkela, the stir may get intensified against the PM’s apathy and ill treatment of Union Tribal Affairs Minister and Sundargarh MP Jual Oram.
It may be mentioned here that while Muktikanta was sitting on hunger strike on Tuesday evening at about 7 am, the Delhi Police forcibly lifted him from the spot and admitted in the Jay Prakash Narayan Hospital. Finally at about 2 am midnight, the police once again removed him from the hospital and left him outside.
At that time, the police warned him not to continue further strike, lest he has to face worst consequence as the police were under pressure to break his strike at any cost. The police without arranging any shelter in the midnight threatened him to leave Delhi soon. Even two of his associates were also given threatening of dire consequence. Somehow, Muktikanta managed to go to Jagannath temple and while in the morning he was preparing to continue his hunger strike,
Baba Balia met him and requested him to break the strike with an assurance to give all sort of cooperation to intensify the movement in coming days. Finally, he accepted the request of Baba Balia and called off the strike.
On the other hand, the undemocratic attitude and highhandedness of the Delhi police was widely condemned here at Rourkela. Various social organisations and civil society members are preparing to give a warm reception to Muktikanta once he reaches Rourkela. They are also planning to decide the road map for the continuance of the stir. If required a Rourkela andh may be held, said sources.
Meanwhile, Rourkela MlA Dilip Ray has already declared that he would be in a march from the IGH to Brahmani river (Panposh) with Muktikanta once he reaches Rourkela.
Similarly, the Rourkela police lifted Gopal Jena on Tuesday from the spot who was on a hunger strike and sending 10 ml blood every day from his body.
After discharge from hospital, he again sat in strike on Wednesday morning and sent blood as usual. When it was confirmed that Muktikanta called off his strike, the representatives of the Rourkela Bar Association met him and persuaded him to call off the strike and finally he agreed.