Bhubaneswar, Sep 29 (PTI) The Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan (NNKS) has called a 12-hour Odisha bandh on Wednesday, demanding the resignation of School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond over alleged large-scale errors in textbooks used in government schools.
The farmers’ rights outfit, which has been observing a relay hunger strike since August 20 over the issue, said the bandh would be completely peaceful.
NNKS national coordinator Akshay Kumar, who has been on hunger strike in Bhubaneswar since September 6, urged the people to support the state-wide shutdown, saying the issue was linked to 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 services, including buses, would remain closed during the bandh.
The NNKS said it has received support from the CPI(M) and the Republican Party of India for the bandh.
The Congress and other INDIA bloc parties, however, have announced a separate state-wide bandh on October 8 over three issues — repeal of the new mining law, resignation of Gond and removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
More than 1,700 errors were detected in newly published school textbooks, according to the NNKS.
Among the errors cited by the organisation were a reference to Niyamgiri Hills as being located in Jharkhand and a picture of the Karnataka assembly being published in place of the Odisha assembly. Scientist Isaac Newton was also described as a pilot in the textbooks.
Meanwhile, the state Home Department has alerted all district collectors ahead of the bandh.
In a letter to the collectors, Joint Secretary Sarat Chandra Marandi asked them to remain vigilant and take necessary measures to prevent any untoward incident.
Security arrangements should be strengthened at sensitive locations, the letter said.
District authorities have also been asked to ensure the smooth functioning of Central and state government offices during the bandh, and closely monitor essential services to prevent any disruption.
The letter noted that several opposition parties may extend support to the bandh.
The Board of Secondary Education (BSE), Odisha, said that no decision had been taken to postpone or cancel any examination in view of the bandh.
Police said elaborate security arrangements have been made in Bhubaneswar, with 10 platoons (30 personnel in each) of force and 15 officers deployed at specific locations to maintain law and order. PTI AAM SOM
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