About four thousand people from across Keonjhar district gathered in front of the district Collector’s office here on Monday and demanded fulfilment of a five-point charter for the district’s development.
These agitators had reached here in response to a call given by twenty different organisations, including the District Bar Association. A coordination committee was formed earlier consisting of members from all political parties and the People’s Forum to carry forward the agitation till fulfilment the demands.
The demands include setting up of a mega steel plant, a medical college and an agriculture college in the district, upgradation of the Dharanidhar Autonomous College to a university and linking of Champua and Anandpur by railway.
Besides the representatives from Bar Association, the Kendujhar Progressive Citizens’ Forum, Kendujhar Journalists’ Association, Bus Owners’ Association, Merchants’ Association, Truck Owners’ Association, Kendujhar Bikas Mancha, Kendujhar Suraksha Manch, district leaders from Congress, BJP, BJD and AAP joined the dharna. Ex-MPs, ex-MlAs also spoke on the Government’s apathy towards Keonjhar’s development and demanded quick action for fulfilling the genuine demands.
This agitation would continue peacefully for an indefinite period till a written commitment is received from the Government, said a member of the coordination committee, Dhirendra Rout. The agitators blocked the NH-215 paralysing traffic in front of the Collectorate for about 12 hours and hundreds of people were seen donating money voluntarily for the agitation.