Politics over farmers’ problems and suicides intensified on Monday as opposition Congress and BJP and ruling BJD held rallies and dharnas here just a day before beginning of the Winter Session of State Assembly on Tuesday.
While the BJD staged a dharna at the Raj Bhavan blaming the Central Government for not hiking minimum support price for paddy, the BJP held a rally named “Sachivalay Chalo” in protest against delay in disbursing agriculture input subsidy to the farmers, whose crops were damaged due to unseasonal rain.
“We are demanding hike in paddy MSP to Rs 2,930 per quintal as per the unanimous resolution passed in the State Assembly. It is disappointing that Prime Minister did not give time to meet the House Committee on paddy MSP led by Assembly Speaker,” said BJD leader Amar Prasad Satpathy.
Many senior leaders of the party joined the dharna. After a dharna, the ruling party too submitted a memorandum, addressed to the President, to Governor Dr SC Jamir.
Similarly, BJP leader and workers led by State president Basant Panda took out a rally and tried to barge into the State Secretariat. But tension erupted as they attempted to break barricades at Rabindra Mandap and go into the Secretariat to meet Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over the issue.
Several BJP leaders, including Panda, KV Singh Deo, Prthiviraj Harichandan, Sameer Dey, Sameer Mohanty were taken into preventive custody in a bid to restore normalcy there.
“The State Government should waive farm loan for the benefit of the distressed farmers. It should provide bonus over the MSP. The Government is yet to disburse agriculture input subsidy to the farmers hit by unseasonal rainfall and pest attack,” lamented Panda.
Similarly, the Congress submitted a memorandum, addressed to the President, to the Governor seeking his intervention to address the farmers’ problems.
“We have submitted a memorandum to Governor SC Jamir demanding an increase in the paddy MSP to Rs 3,000 per quintal,” said Congress Farmers’ Cell president Amiya Patnaik.
“Both the Central and State Governments have betrayed the farmers. The Congress will fight for the rights of the farmers,” said he.