The Kui Samaj Samanwaya Samiti (KSSS), an apex body of local Kui tribe in Kandhamal district, has “partially” called off its proposed four-day bandh call following protracted talks with senior government officials, bringing some amount of relief to the worried state administration.
The KSSS had called for Kandhamal bandh from December 24 to 26 for non-fulfilment of its 34-point charter of demands that the chief minister Naveen Patnaik had promised to implement.
“Following the request by the state administration and assurances by senior government officials to fulfil our demands, we have partially called off our bandh call. Instead of four days, we have called for a one-day Kandhamal bandh on December 26. However, we will hold meetings peacefully and observe Martyrs’ Day on December 25 without disturbing other communities. We want that our Christian brothers and sisters observe Christmas with all happiness and fervour,” KSSS president Lambodar Kanhar told this reporter on Saturday.
Mr Kanhar warned that unless the government considered the demands of Kui Samaj by January 20, the organisation would give fresh Kandhamal bandh call on January 25 and 26.
Police director general Manmohan Praharaj, inspector general (operation) Y.B. Khurania, deputy inspector general R.K. Sharma and northern revenue divisional commissioner Laxminarayan Nayak had rushed to Kandhamal to dissuade Kui Samaj Samanwaya Samiti leaders from their four-day bandh call as it could have flared up communal tension in the area.
The KSSS, among others, has been demanding scheduled tribe status, action against a section of Kui-speaking non-tribals who have fraudulently availed ST certificates and got government jobs.