Bhubaneshwar, February 20: The Board of Secondary Education (BSE) Odisha Class 10th and Class 12th exam will remain unaffected and undisturbed tomorrow as the state will be holding a 12-hour bandh on Thursday. Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan (NNKS) has called for the protest seeking proper MSP (Minimum Support Price) on Paddy and other agricultural produces, pension and prestige for the farmers. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress have extended their support to the statewide bandh. Odisha Bandh Tomorrow: Farmers' Outfit NNKS Calls 12-Hour Statewide Shutdown; Congress, BJP Extend Support.

According to the news agency PTI, NNKS convenor Akshay Kumar said, "We have given a 12-hour bandh call on Thursday. The government's plea is aimed to foil our agitation. The NNKS is sensitive towards the examination and therefore vehicles carrying examination-related materials will not be detained." BJP Backs Thursday's Odisha Bandh Called by Farmers.

The Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal government in an appeal to agitating farmers body had requested to call off the bandh in the view of examinations. The government said that the bandh would affect the exam process as the question paper and exam sheets will be transported to examination centres on February 21. Kumar, replying to the government said, "As such our bandh will be observed during the day time and they can transport the examination materials after 6 pm."

Meanwhile, this year approximately 6 lakh students will appear for Class 10th and Class 12th exams. In order to avoid question paper leak digitally, mobile phones are banned in the examination centres. Cameras have been installed in 404 sensitive centres and if needed section 144 will be imposed around sensitive centres.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 20, 2019 09:10 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).