Bhubaneswar: The Bharat Bandh call given by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha and joint trade unions in support of the protesting farmers from 6.00 am to 4.00 pm on Friday evoked a lukewarm response in Odisha. While the response to the strike was minimal in Bhubaneswar, it received mixed response in Angul and Rourkela.
Movement of vehicles was normal across the capital city of Bhubaneswar, while trains operated as per schedule.
Meanwhile, the trade unions are scheduled to organise a joint rally in Bhubaneswar Friday afternoon to highlight the plight of the agitating farmers.
In Angul and Rourkela, people experienced some disruptions. Bus services were halted for a while in Rourkela and several plants and industries in Kalunga Industrial Estate and Rajgangpur remained closed for the day. Similarly, mining operations remained suspended in Kalta, Bimalagarh, and Koida.
Worth mentioning that the farmers are demanding a hike in the MSP, farm loan waiver, and implementation of the Swaminathan National Commission on Farmers report.