Locals observe 12-hour Aska Bandh demanding separate ‘Rushikulya’ district in Odisha’s Ganjam

Aska: The residents of Aska, led by a local lawyers’ outfit and under the banner Milita Kriyanusthan Committee, observed a 12-hour Bandh today demanding a separate ‘Rushikulya’ district in Ganjam.

A large number of residents observed the Bandh from 6.00 am in the morning, which was called earlier. Accordingly, private and government schools, colleges and offices; shops, commercial establishments and marketplaces; banks, courts and several other institutions remained closed, a source said.

“We have been demanding a separate district since 1993 and our demand is not being met by Odisha government. We had staged protests for several times in the past days. Despite running from pillar to post, neither the government nor the district Administration paid any heed to it. We have intensified the protest keeping in mind the upcoming General Elections 2024,” an office-bearer expressed.

“We will further intensify the agitation if our demand is not met soon,” the outfit leader said.

Worth mentioning, the outfit demanded ‘Rushikulya’ district comprising of at least eight blocks such as Aska, Dharakote, Sheragada, Sanakhemundi, Kabisuryanagar, Beguniapada, Polsara and Hinjilicut. There are more than 15 lakh residents in these blocks of the present Ganjam district.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik gave his commitment during bypoll to announce Padmapur as a separate district, consisting of three blocks. The area of ‘Rushikulya’ consists of eight blocks in Ganjam.