Pradesh Congress Committee president Prasad Harichandan on Thursday pulled up both the NDA Government at the Centre and the BJD Government in the State on various farmer issues and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik have secret political tie-ups.
“It is disappointing that the Modi Government has increased the MSP per quintal of paddy by a mere Rs80 to Rs1,550. While a farmer spends Rs2,344 to produce a quintal of paddy, he will now suffer a loss of Rs754 per every quintal of the crop. The Centre has mocked farmers by increasing a mere Rs80,” Harichandan told a Press conference here.
Stating that the Congress-led UPA Government had increased the MSP by Rs250 during its regime, Harichandan slammed the BJP for increasing the same by Rs150 during three years and forgetting its promise to fix paddy procurement price at cost of production plus 50 per cent profit.
Similarly, he said the Naveen Patnaik Government has been continuously neglecting farmers as a result of which five farmers are dying every day due to crop loss and loan burden. He demanded that the Government waive farm loans soon.
He wanted to know the status of the unanimous resolution that was passed in the State Assembly on March 25 to suggest to the Centre to fix paddy MSP at Rs2,930.
“While the UPA Government had waived farm loans of whopping Rs76,000 crore, it is disappointing that the Modi Government is yet take a decision in this regard,” said the PCC chief.
He alleged that the Chief Minister’s prompt support to the BJP’s Presidential nominee has proved that he and Modi fight during daytime and exchange friendship in the night.
He demanded that the paddy MSP increased to Rs3,000 and all farm loans be waived otherwise the Congress would expedite its agitation.
Besides Harichandan, senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Srikant Jena too lashed out at the Chief Minister for supporting the BJP’s Presidential nominee.
“The Congress has often stated about the strong link between the BJP and the BJD. The Chief Minister has proved this by announcing his party’s support to the BJP’s Presidential nominee within a minute,” said Jena in a statement.
He said the Congress along with other like-minded parties would fight to protect the interests of people and combat the communal force.