The State Congress on Sunday demanded that the Centre raise the minimum support price (MSP) to `2,500 per quintal of paddy and the State Government provide `300 as bonus to farmers over the MSP in order to check distress sale in the State. The party passed a resolution in this regard in its extended executive meeting held here on Sunday.
“Both the NDA Government and the State Government have failed to provide support to farmers for which as many as 210 farmers have committed suicide. The State Government has misappropriated `2,000 crore given by the last UPA Government for green revolution. Now distress sale of paddy has worsened,” alleged PCC president Prasad Harichandan.
He alleged that the Naveen Patnaik-Government has not been able to provide works to 45 days but making a false promise to give works for 200 days a year under the MGNEGS.
He too came down heavily on the State Government for not implementing the Odia language classical status, given by the UPA Government, in true letter and spirit. He threatened that the Congress would take to the street in protest against non-implementation of the classical status soon.
Other resolutions passed at the meeting include demand for waiver of electric tariff for cultivation, implementation of Forest Rights Act in true letter and spirit, distribution of NFSA ration cards to all deserving beneficiaries and supply of drinking water to every village.
The party also discussed modalities to strengthen its organisations till booth level in view of coming gram panchayat elections. By now party committees have been formed at all district levels and in 80 block levels. The organisational polls would be completed by April first week. Besides, a two-month membership drive would be undertaken in all 36,000 booths.
leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Narasingha Mishra told a Press conference that the State Government has been revengeful and targeting opposition party leaders after ruling party leaders were proved to have links with Dhalsamant brothers. He said former Sanakhemundi Congress MlA Ramesh Jena has been implicated in false cases.