Congress workers led by former MP Pradeep Majhi on Monday staged a road blockade here protesting the State Government’s lackadaisical attitude towards procurement of paddy in Nabarangpur district. The Congress workers and farmers blocked the Borigumma-Bargarh road (NH-26) at the Old Bus-Stand in the town by putting paddy stocks on the road demanding early procurement to stop distress sale.
Majhi said the Government has so far purchased 13 lakh quintals of paddy out of the total production of 23 lakh quintals in the district. Even, many farmers are yet to get their payment of their paddy sold in the Mandi, he said. “We heard from different sources that farmers of the district have sold around seven lakh quintals of paddy to traders of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh at a lower price. Due to the State Government’s faulty procurement policy, the poor farmers are suffering a lot,” Majhi said.
A faceoff took place when the police tried to disperse the agitators to vacate the highway. Around 50 Congress workers were arrested by the police. MlA Bhujabal Majhi, the District Congress Committee president and other party leaders took part in the agitation.