Kalinga Nagar tribals to continue to agitation

Bhubaneswar,May 7 (UNI) The Bisthapan Birodhi Manch(BBM), spearheading the Kalinga Nagar agitation, today remained non-committal to withdrawing its four-month long road blockade agitation during a discussion with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

The BMM has resorted to road blockade ever since 12 tribals were killed in police firing in Kalinga Nagar on January 2 last during a protest demonstration against displacement by Tata Steel project.

A 25-member team of tribals of the BMM led by its convener Rabindra Jarika met the Chief Minister and other officials to resolve the impasse but the meeting remained inconclusive.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik described the meeting a positive development and hoped that the road blockade by the tribals would be withdrawn and peace and harmony would be restored in the area soon.

But the BBM Convener said since there was no announcement from the government on the fulfillment of its three point charter of demands,the road blockade would continue to press the government to concede to the demands.

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