Under the leadership of BJP MlA nominee in last election from Athagarh Biswa Sundar Mishra, a motorcycle rally of hundreds of workers with former Minister Sameer Dey and lyricist cum singer Manmath Mishra was organised here on Monday.
The rally started from Birakishorpur and reached at the office of the Sub-Collector where the participants staged a protest meet giving slogans against the inability of the State Government in tackling the farming crisis.
They said that local MlA has lost confidence of Athagarh farmers in safeguarding their interest. The farmers are reeling under a difficult time due to drought, pest and untimely rain, leading to huge crop loss.
The Rengali right canal which was started during the period of former CM and MlA of Athagarh JB Patnaik has been lying defunct. His dream has not yet been realized by the local MlA for political reasons, they alleged.
Recently, the torrential rains have washed away the vegetable and paddy crops. loan burden weighs heavy on the farmers. Keeping the large scale distress in view, the administration should write off all outstanding loans of the farmers, provide them loan afresh, give crop insurance money and free seed and fertiliser for the next Rabi crops, they demanded.
BJP Cuttack district general secretary Ramnarayan Mohanty, Shankarsan Mohanty, Jagadananda Tripathy and Prakash Sethi etc were present.