The BJD on Saturday decided to embark on a week-long agitation in all the 314 block headquarters of the State from July 10 to 18 against the meagre hike in minimum support price (MSP) of paddy by the Central Government.
Party vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra at a Press conference here came down heavily on the Central Government for making a mockery of farmers’ plight in the State. “The hike of Rs 80 per quintal of paddy speaks volumes about the intention of the Centre in dealing with the issue. The Modi Government has betrayed the farmers,” said he.Criticising Modi for not fulfilling the election promise on the paddy MSP, Mishra said the hike of Rs 80 will put the farmer into distress. As per its election manifesto, the BJP should increase the MSP of paddy to one and a half time of the production cost, added Mishra.As the MSP on paddy fixed by the Centre is less than the production cost, a unanimous resolution was passed in the State Assembly demanding that it should be fixed at Rs 2,930 per quintal. An Assembly Committee headed by the Speaker was constituted to meet the PM and apprise him of the issue, but he is not finding time to even meet the committee,” alleged Mishra.
In reaction, BJP spokesperson Golak Mohapatra said, “The party ruled Odisha for 17 years but failed to improve irrigation, electricity and other issues which further resulted in low production and farmers committing suicide. The BJP will stick to its words,” said Mohapatra. Accusing the Naveen Government of being anti-farmer, Mohapatra asked, “Why the BJD Government is not waiving off loans of farmers like the BJP-ruled StatesIJ”