At a time when the whole State administration starting from district Collectors to the Agriculture Minister are reiterating their stand that the farmers’ suicides are not related to crop loss and loan burden, ruling BJD’s Sambalpur MP Nagendra Kumar Pradhan on Sunday put the Government in a fix maintaining that farmers are committing suicide due to the very two reasons of loan burden and crop loss.
“I do not know what the Agriculture Minister is saying. But farmers are taking loans for agriculture purpose and being unable to repay the debts due to crop loss they are committing suicide,” Pradhan told a TV channel.
Recently, the district Collectors in their reports submitted to the Government denied that farmers are ending their lives owing to crop loss and loan burden.
As Pradhan’s remark came as a huge embarrassment for the Government, BJD spokesperson Pratap Jena said the statement of Pradhan was his personal view. “The reports of the Collectors on the death of farmers are based on investigation and field visits. I do not know whether Pradhan has made an investigation before making such a statement. His statement is his personal view,” said Jena.
Pradhan had also landed in a controversy on Saturday by writing to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik requesting him to execute the Sindol hydro power project over the Mahanadi.