The BJD and the BJP were on Wednesday engaged in a political slugfest with the State's ruling party raising issues like Central apathy towards Odisha and its farmers and the saffron party highlighting the issue of no action against the BJD activists who vandalised a Central Minister's car in Bargarh last week.

In an apparent show of strength, the two parties hit the streets slamming each other.

BJD members, including Ministers and other senior leaders and MlAs, staged a demonstration in front of the Raj Bhavan here against the Centre's negligence towards farmers and submitted a memorandum to Governor Dr SC Jamir for the President of India.

Terming the NDA Government at the Centre as "anti-farmer", the BJD urged the President to direct the Centre to enhance the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy to Rs2,500 per quintal and release drought assistance for the State to protect interests of farmers.

Stating that farmers of the State contribute substantial quantity of paddy to the Central pool, the BJD pointed out that input costs for paddy cultivation have increased manifold due to the rise in prices of fertilisers, labour, pesticides and other factors.

Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy alleged that the Union Government is not giving due MSPs for various agricultural produces.

"Despite repeated demands, the Centre has increased the MSP of paddy by Rs60 only. We will intensify the protest," said Maharathy.

On the other hand, hitting out at Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for going soft against the attackers of two Union Ministers at Bargarh, BJP workers held demonstration in all the blocks of the State alleging that the attack on the convoy of Union Ministers Santosh Gangwar and Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti on June 24 was "preplanned" and it was perpetrated at the behest of Chief Minister Patnaik.

leading the agitation at Balipatna block, party State president Basanta Panda termed the administrative inquiry ordered into the incident as "mere eyewash."

"Nobody has been arrested for the Bargarh episode even after five days to the incident, while immediate action had been taken against those who demonstrated near the Chief Minister's cavalcade in past booking them under attempt to murder charge," said Panda.

The party would also hold a demonstration in front of the Raj Bhavan on July 4 and submit a memorandum to the Governor highlighting the wrongdoings of the ruling party in the State, BJP leaders said.