The BJP on Tuesday severely criticised the State Government for publishing full-page farmer and farming-related advertisements in newspapers while ‘farmers are committing suicides every day’.
“Full-page advertisements are not meant for safety of farmers and their farming but for creating self-praise of the Government,” said BJP State spokesperson Sameer Mohanty in a statement. He stated the Government is trying to take credit by spending Central funds for farmers’ welfare. “Compensations mentioned in the ads will not be met from the State Government’ own funds but to be spent from the Central Government’s Central Relief Fund,” said Mohanty.
He said that the State Government has not mentioned in the ads to spend a rupee excess of the CRF and has announced the drought package under the pressure from the BJP. Stating that there is huge dearth of officials in both Revenue and Agriculture Departments, Mohanty wanted to know why the Government is delaying to publish names of drought-affected blocks and announcing modes and dates of assistance payment. “At a time when farmers are committing suicide, what was the need for the CM to go to DelhiIJ” Mohanty questioned.
He said the BJP has asked the State Government to open control rooms at each block and provide assistance at the earliest.