Tension is brewing in political and agrarian circles as the Navnirman Krushak Sangathan (NKS) formally announced plans to stage intensive demonstrations during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Odisha on October 25.
Accusing both the Centre and the state administration of systematically stifling democratic rights, the outfit claims that state machinery is being weaponised to favour corporate interests at the direct expense of farmers, tribals, and marginalised populations.
“Destruction in the Name of Development”
Addressing a high-stakes press conference in Bhubaneswar, NKS founder Akshay Kumar did not mince words. He launched a scathing critique against the ongoing transfer of vital natural resources—including land, forests, water, and mineral wealth—to corporate giants.
Kumar characterised the policy landscape as “destruction in the name of development”. He alleged that local tribal communities and farmers peacefully resisting these corporate land grabs are being systematically targeted through fabricated legal cases, prolonged detentions, and aggressive police interventions.
The Unresolved MSP Crisis
Shifting focus to national agrarian policies, Kumar slammed the central government for its continued reluctance to grant a statutory legal guarantee for Minimum Support Prices (MSP) covering 23 essential crops. He argued that despite the historic 2020–21 farmers’ agitation in Delhi, promises made to the agricultural community remain unfulfilled.
Recalling the sacrifices of the movement—where over 750 farmers reportedly lost their lives—Kumar asserted that current state policies continue to deepen the deep-seated agrarian crisis, driving vulnerable farmers toward extreme distress and suicides.
Flashpoints in Education and Civil Liberties
The grievances raised by the organisation extended far beyond agriculture. Targeting the Odisha government’s handling of the education sector, Kumar highlighted an alarming administrative failure: the acknowledgement of 1,678 glaring errors in textbooks meant for Classes I through VIII. Despite widespread public protests, corrected textbooks have yet to reach students. He directly criticised School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond for failing to accept moral accountability and resign, warning that administrative apathy is jeopardising the academic future of nearly one crore students.
Furthermore, NKS expressed grave apprehension regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, claiming it poses a direct threat to the democratic voting rights of 13.30 crore citizens nationwide. Citing the recent detentions of prominent figures like Crocodile Janta Party national spokesperson Saurav Das and national leader Ashutosh Ranka, Kumar claimed that dissenting voices are facing unprecedented state restrictions, compounded by digital censorship on social media and a partisan pro-government media narrative.
The October 25 Showdown
With the Prime Minister’s arrival just around the corner, the Navnirman Krushak Sangathan has made it clear that its upcoming protests will amplify the voices of the silenced. By bringing issues of farmer welfare, tribal sovereignty, educational integrity, and civil liberties to the forefront, the outfit aims to turn the high-profile visit into a referendum on grassroots governance and democratic accountability.
