Normal life in western Odisha was disrupted as the BJP observed a three-hour ‘Chakka Jam’ in the region on Saturday protesting non-procurement of paddy and problems faced in mandis by farmers.
The protest started at 10 am a continue till 1 pm. Vehicular movement was paralysed as BJP members and supporters blocked National Highways, State Highways and other routes under five Lok Sabha and 37 Assembly constituencies in western Odisha.
The BJP leaders alleged that despite the State Government’s claim of record procurement in the current Kharif marketing season thousands of farmers have not been able to sell their paddy to the Government.
Neither the Government officials nor the ruling party leaders are coming to the mandis or listening to the farmers’ problems.
They demanded that the Government should immediately procure the farmer’s produce or they would face the music in the oncoming State Assembly session. Sambalpur MLA Jaynaryan Mishra, Leader of Opposition Pradipta Naik and other senior leaders were present.