The BJP on Wednesday criticised Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for transferring Intelligence chief Abhay and directing the police department to strengthen his security after members of a farmers’ body blocked his way to the State Secretariat on Tuesday.
BJP State spokesperson Sajjan Sharma said the Chief Minister got the members of the Nab Nirman Krushak Sangathan (NNKS) arrested instead of taking steps to fulfil their demands.
NNKS members, who have been sitting in dharna in front of the State Assembly since December 9, have been fighting for the demands including crop loss compensation and `500 as bonus per quintal of paddy over the minimum support price (MSP). “Why the Chief Minister didn’t meet the farmers since December 9,” questioned Sharma, adding, “It clearly indicated that Patnaik fears to face people for discussions on the issue.”
The BJP condemned the anti-people attitude of the Government for sending the agitating NNKS members to jail after registering criminal cases against them. “When Chhattisgarh provides `300 as bonus on MSP of paddy, where is the problem for Odisha to do the same,” asked Sharma, adding, “If the Government does not release the 26 arrested farmers unconditionally, the BJP will take the issue to the streets.”