BHUBANESWAR: Farmer outfit Navnirman Krushak Sangathan NKS ) on Wednesday did not pay heed to the request of the state government to call off Odisha bandh on Thursday on the eve of the matriculation examinations. It will go ahead with its previous plan to observe bandh in state demanding pension to farmers and proper price to agriculture produces.Outfit’s national convener Akshaya Kumar told media here that the bandh will not affect preparation work of the examinations. “The state government has clearly said that question papers will reach the examination centres before the examination begins on Friday. But our bandh will be observed between 6am and 6pm on Thursday. So it is clear that our agitation will not create any problem for the examinations,” he added.Kumar said agitators will allow passing of vehicles carrying students appearing tests or transportation of examination-related materials during bandh. “We will observe the bandh peacefully. We know most of the students appearing the 10th examinations belong to farmers’ families. The government is trying to foil our agitation by using ‘matric examinations’ as a ploy, but we will go ahead with our bandh decision,” he added.The state government had also warned the farmer outfit not to create any problem for public and students. “If it continues with the bandh and creates problem for the public, government will take action according to law,” said a government order.RP Sharma, DG of police, said they have made adequate arrangements depending on the possible intensity of the agitation, so that the shutdown does not prevent students from appearing Matric examinations. He appealed the farmers to observe bandh in peaceful manner without causing any trouble in examination process.BJP Krushak Morcha state general secretary Surath Biswal on Wednesday said they will support the bandh. Earlier, Congress state president Niranjan Patnaik and BJP state president Basanta Panda had supported the bandh. Even some outfits like Maoists and prohibitionists have also supported the cause of farmers.BJD says the state government has done several farmer welfare schemes. State agriculture minister Sashibhusan Behera said instead of cooperating in effective implementation of the schemes launched by the state government, the outfit is resorting to Odisha bandh.Meanwhile, Utkal University on Wednesday issued notification to postpone all the examinations scheduled to be held on Thursday in view of the Odisha bandh. The university will notify the date of examination later, official sources said.

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