At a time facing flack from all corners over the rising farmer suicides, the ruling BJD has finally braced up itself to organise a big rally of western Odisha farmers and pay attention to their problems face to face.
The BJD would hold the mass convention for farmers at Sohela in Bargarh district, known as the rice bowl of Odisha, on November 19. Besides other party leaders, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik would attend the convention and personally interact with farmers on their problems and solutions to the issues.
This was announced by senior party leader and former Minister Surjya Narayan Patro at a Press meet here on Friday. More than a lakh of peasants from various places across the western Odisha would attend the convention, he added.
Speaking about the party’s future course of action to put an end to the farmers’ suicide, Patro said the debt-ridden farmers would not be asked to repay their loans for the time being. Moreover, in view of the coming Rabi season, the farmers would be again extended loans. Among others, Urban Development Minister Puspendra Singh Deo and senior party leader and former Minister Prasanna Acharya were present.