While one more distressed farmer committed suicide in Nuapada district, Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy on Thursday once again faced protests from Opposition parties.
Maharathy faced stiff opposition from Congress and BJP members, who waved black flags at him during his visit to Nuapada district to assess the drought situation.
Despite deployment of security forces at various places, the Minister was greeted with black flags. Besides, eggs were pelted at him, though they missed the target and hit his vehicle.
While Maharathy was on his way to Nuapada from Kalahandi, Congress and BJP members staged protests against him at various places. They blocked the Minister’s vehicle at Barpadar in Khariar and at Nuapada town. The agitators also shouted slogans against the Minister and the State Government for the latter’s failure to meet the drought situation and to arrest the increasing farmers’ suicide.
After facing a series of protests, Maharathy went to the district Collector’s office to participate in a review meeting. Prior to his reaching the meeting venue, eggs were reportedly pelted at his vehicle.
Five Congress members were arrested by police for pelting eggs..
It may be recalled that Maharathy had faced similar protests in Balangir district as BJP members had shown black flags at him demanding declaration of the entire district as drought-hit.
In Bargarh district, Congress members also showed black flags at Higher Education Minister Pradeep Panigrahy when he was on an official visit on Thursday.