K’handi MP, locals up in arms against Naveen Govt

Note: As per our information indefinite strike for Wagon Facotry was continueing at Narla, most of odia daily covered in Sambalpur edition, but it seems district administration has interferred on Friday and hope a solution will come out. Locals are coming up together is a good sign.


The Pioneer, April 17, 2011
PNS, Bhawanipatna

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee’s commitment to Kalahandi MP Bhakta Charan Das in the Parliament during the last Budget Session to set up a rail wagon factory in the district here and at the same time the State Government’s negligence in providing only 50 acres of land to the Centre from the soil of Kalahandi is stimulating the Congress MP and citizens to take to the streets.

No doubt the MP himself is realising the BJD’s conspiracy behind not providing the land while at the same time, it cannot be ruled out that the Chief Minister (CM) might be in a reprisal against the Centre as the CM has been encountering many challenges from the Centre in setting-up of industries in the State here.

Eventually, this political game would offer the voters again to choose their leaders in the forthcoming General Elections, the political observers here feel.

Reports said that the members of the Rail Wagon Nirman Sangram Samiti (RWNSS), Narla had sat on an indefinite strike since April 11 protesting against shifting of the proposed rail wagon factory from Narla in the district here to Ganjam district, the CM’s home turf.

The indefinite strike was called off on Friday afternoon at Narla after the RWNSS members had a discussion with the district administration and simultaneously following the request of incumbent MP Das. Addressing the public, the MP said that he has given an ultimatum of five more days to the State Government to allot land in Kalahandi as the State has only the power to provide the land to the Central Government.

Blaming the State Government for its apathy towards the denizens of Kalahandi district, Bhakta said a signature campaign of around 10,000 people was sent to the Chief Minister for the establishment of the factory and even a delegate had also been to him, but it is unfortunate that the Chief Minister did not listen to the voice of the Kalahandias and instead he is proposing the Centre to establish the factory at Chhatrapur of Ganjam district.

“As the State Government does not want that the Congress continues here in Kalahandi, we are also ready to challenge them that no one can seize our fundamental rights,” Bhakta thundered.

Threatening the State Government, the MP said it would cost dear to the BJD Government saying that a mass agitation will begin in every nook and corner of the district with blocking of all the streets and closing down the Government offices if the much-awaited land is not provided.

Even the taxes would not be paid to the State Government from the district here if the requisite land for the proposed rail project is not allotted, he further threatened adding, this is our fundamental right and no one can stop us to possess it. As we have sufficient land of 70 acres near Narla railway station and near Chapatakhanda around thousands acres of land is available, the State is reluctant to write a letter to the Centre that Kalahandi is having sufficient land to set up the factory.

“This is completely a political game and this petty game would not be tolerated at any cost,” he lambasted. Das also said that to set up the factory only 50 acres of land is required as per the Central Government’s needs. Even we have sufficient private lands in the district, but again the State Government’s permission is required for the requisition.

“A conspiracy is going on against me to wash out the Congress from Kalahandi district and had Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik personally understood the plight of the inhabitants here, the BJD would not have lost in this district. The parochial politics is the only reason for not allowing the land to the Centre,” Bhakta reiterated.