Normal life was completely disrupted in Sambalpur on Wednesday as a 12-hour bandh, called by farmers' organisations, brought the city to a standstill. The protest was against the persistent problems related to tokens in the government's paddy procurement process, an issue that has plagued farmers for some time.
City Paralyzed by Shutdown
The bandh, enforced by the Sambalpur District Farmers' Organisation, saw widespread compliance across the urban area. Shops, commercial markets, government offices, and banks remained shut for the entire duration. From 6 am, farmers set up pickets at all major junctions, effectively halting all vehicular movement within the city.
Throughout the day, groups of farmers rode motorcycles across different neighbourhoods, raising slogans to highlight their demands. The protestors made exceptions for emergency services, ensuring that essential functions were not hampered. Notably, movement on national highways was not blocked this time, as farmers stated they had already resorted to highway blockades twice before and did not wish to repeat the action.
A "Final Warning" to the Government
The agitation took a significant turn when protestors briefly stopped the vehicle of the district and sessions judge. They requested a suspension of court proceedings for the day in solidarity with their cause. After discussions with the agitators, the judge later proceeded to the court under heightened security.
Ashok Pradhan, the convener of the Paschim Odisha Farmers' Organisation, declared the bandh a "final warning" to the state administration. He warned that if the token issue is not resolved satisfactorily, farmers would be compelled to launch a more severe and intense agitation in the near future.
The impact of the shutdown was not confined to Sambalpur city alone. It resonated in other parts of the district, including Kuchinda, Rairakhol, Jamankira, Padiabahal, and Goshala. The protest garnered support from several trade unions and organisations. Major opposition parties, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Congress, also joined the agitation to express solidarity with the farming community.
Political Reactions and Official Response
BJD district president and former minister, Rohit Pujari, strongly criticised the government for neglecting farmers' grievances. He alleged that while similar issues existed during the previous BJD government's tenure, they were addressed promptly. Pujari accused the ruling BJP of failing to keep its pre-election promises to end deductions and unfair practices in procurement, claiming such malpractices have only increased.
During the picketing at Kacheri Chowk, Sub-Collector Pushpanjali Panda arrived at the spot to engage with the protestors. She assured the farmers that the government is actively holding talks to find a solution to the token problem. Panda informed them that some tokens for the second phase of procurement have already been issued and expressed confidence that the issue would be resolved soon.
The widespread nature of the bandh and the participation of diverse groups underscore the deepening frustration among farmers over the procurement system. The state government now faces mounting pressure to deliver a concrete and timely solution to avert further escalation of the protest.
