Row over comment

Bhubaneswar: Pramila Mallick, president of the BJD’s women’s wing and former minister, has stirred a controversy with her statement on farmer suicides. While refuting claims by the Opposition and media of widespread farmer suicides in several districts of the state, Mallick said: “Why doesn’t the Opposition distribute amar ladu (sweets of immortality) to the farmers?” The Opposition said Mallick should be careful with her comments.

Bus strike

Bhubaneswar: The state’s private bus owners’ association on Sunday called for an indefinite strike from December 1 in protest against the government’s decision to hike various taxes. Association leaders said they had requested chief minister Naveen Patnaik to withdraw the proposal, but the government was yet to take any decision regarding the rollback of taxes.

IISER visit

Berhampur: A four-member central team, led by an Indian Institute of Management professor, would visit two sites in Ganjam identified for the proposed Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) on November 18. The two sites — Paluru Hill and Loudigam — were suggested to the state government by the district administration on October 5.