Odisha bandh called over alleged textbook errors; NNKS seeks minister's resignation
The Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan (NNKS) has called for a 12-hour Odisha bandh on Wednesday, seeking the resignation of School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond over alleged large-scale errors in textbooks used in government schools.
The farmers' rights organisation has been observing a relay hunger strike since August 20 over the issue and said the bandh would remain peaceful.
NNKS national coordinator Akshay Kumar, who has been on hunger strike in Bhubaneswar since September 6, appealed to people to support the statewide shutdown, saying the issue concerns the future of lakhs of students.
"We are hopeful that the bandh will be a success," he said.
Kumar said shops, markets, commercial establishments, private establishments and public transport, including buses, would remain closed during the bandh.
The NNKS said the CPI(M) and Republican Party of India have extended their support to the bandh.
The Congress and other INDIA bloc parties have announced a separate statewide bandh for October 8 over three issues: repeal of the new mining law, Gond's resignation and the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
According to the NNKS, more than 1,700 errors have been found in newly published school textbooks.
The organisation cited several examples, including a reference to Niyamgiri Hills as being in Jharkhand and a photograph of the Karnataka Assembly being used instead of the Odisha Assembly. The textbooks also reportedly described scientist Isaac Newton as a pilot.
Ahead of the bandh, the state Home Department alerted all district collectors and asked them to remain vigilant and take necessary steps to prevent any untoward incident.
In a letter to the collectors, Joint Secretary Sarat Chandra Marandi directed authorities to strengthen security arrangements at sensitive locations.
District authorities were also asked to ensure the uninterrupted functioning of Central and state government offices and closely monitor essential services to prevent disruption.
The letter noted that several opposition parties could extend their support to the bandh.
The Board of Secondary Education (BSE), Odisha, said no decision had been taken to postpone or cancel any examination because of the bandh.
Police said elaborate security arrangements have been put in place in Bhubaneswar, with 10 platoons of force, comprising 30 personnel each, and 15 officers deployed at specific locations to maintain law and order. (with inputs from PTI)
