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State govt in a fix over Orissa bandh

Bibhuti Mishra in Bhubaneswar

It is Orissa bandh Friday, but with a difference.

While the government supports the cause of the Utkal Sammilani, which has given the call to shut all businesses, schools and government offices for a day, it is duty-bound to oppose the bandh - at least in public.

Utkal Sammilani is demanding the re-integration of two formerly princely states of Sareikala and Kharasuan with Orissa and the state government has more than once supported this demand.

The bandh, however, is a law and order matter and it must be dealt with "accordingly."

Sareikala and Kharasuan were merged with Bihar on May 18, 1948 in a move often described by the Orissa government as a "historical blunder."

The demand for reintegration of the two princely states with Orissa has, in fact, been spearheaded by the ruling Biju Janata Dal.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, a coalition partner of the BJD, too had supported the demand. Its state unit chief, Manmohan Samal, said: "Though we support the Utkal Sammilani's demand, we think the bandh is quite unnecessary."

Several opposition parties, free of the compulsions of a ruling party, are supporting the 12-hour bandh openly. Teachers and lawyers too would stay away from work Friday to show solidarity with the Utkal Sammilani.

The bandh, however, is a bit of an embarrassment for the BJD. Although it has asked all the heads of department in the government to ensure maximum attendance, the bandh's failure would be setback for the BJD.

Senior BJD leader and assembly speaker, Sarat Kar, who met the prime minister on Thursday to present Orissa's case and was scheduled to arrive in Bhubaneswar on Friday, has delayed his return. "Why should I drive from the airport to my house and disrupt the bandh ," he said speaking to rediff.com.

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Orissa wants Sareikala and Kharasuan back

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