Opposition members on Saturday severely criticised the State Government alleging that farmers have been neglected the most during the last 18 years in the State.

However, Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment Minister Pradeep Maharathy refuted the charge, saying the State Government has always given priority for development of farmers and would continue to do so.

Participating in an Adjournment Motion on the topic, Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra said massive irregularities involving crores of rupees have occurred in procurement of paddy seeds.

While the Union Government has not set Paddy MSP at one-and-a-half times of the cost of production as promised by it, the State Government has failed to provide bonus to farmers, he said. He wanted to know the justification behind deduction of paddy on the plea of FAQ when the Mandis lack systems to measure the FAQ standard.

He said while farmers are coming to hold an agitation in a democratic way to get price, prestige and pension, police are forcibly stopping them from holding demonstration.

He said the Chief Minister should take all members of the House to Delhi to fight for farmers’ rights.

Other Opposition members like Tara Prasad Bahinipati, Naba Das, Rabin Narayan Nayak and Pradeep Purohit too alleged that the Government has failed in supporting farmers. They demanded that the farmers

be given interest-free loans and pensions at the earliest, besides procurement of paddy at MSP with bonus.

In his reply, the Minister said the State Government has always worked for farmers. Input subsidies are being provided and short term loans are being converted to medium terms when crops are lost due to natural calamities. Many famers between 60 and 80 years age are being provided pension under the Madhubabu Pension Yojana. Besides, farmers are being provided free treatment under the Biju Kalyan Yojana. To resolve various problems of farmers, a Ministerial committee has been formed headed by the Finance Minister.

Expressing dissatisfaction over Minister’s reply, Congress members rushed into the Well of the House and shouted slogans and BJP members staged a walkout.