Separate Koshal Cry Grows Louder

SAMBALPUR: The Koshal State Coordination Committee (KSCC) has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare separate Koshal State during Kisaan Sammelan, scheduled to be held at Bargarh on February 21.

The members of KSCC, who met here on Sunday, decided to appeal to the Prime Minister to announce Koshal, comprising western Odisha districts, as separate State under Article 2 and 3 of the Constitution. They resolved to submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister over the demand during the Kisaan Sammelan. It was decided that members of KSCC from across the region would attend the meeting and press for the demand by holding placards at the venue. They also decided to use social media to reach out to Modi.

KSCC chief coordinator Pramod Mishra said they have decided to intensify their agitation over the demand. The agitation would be resumed with a ‘dharna’ in front of Governor’s House in Bhubaneswar on March 8. At least 2,000 people from each district of the region would join the demonstration. It will be followed by another ‘dharna’ at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi in the last week of April, he added.

This apart, the KSCC will observe Odisha Divas on April 1 as Black Day in each western Odisha district besides Athamallik sub-division in Angul district, Mishra said.

Moreover, a bicycle rally will be organised and the participants would move across the region to mobilise opinion on the demand. The KSCC will also launch a massive membership drive across the region soon, he said.