Politics over nonpayment of dues to farmers in Koraput district hotted up on Tuesday as both ruling BJD activists and Opposition Congress workers staged protests separately at the Sub-Collector’s office.
Notably, farmers are yet to get selling prices of Rabi crops which had been procured by the Government by June 30.
BJD spokesperson and former minister Ravi Narayan Nanda and Congress MlA Taraprasad Bahinipati staged separate dharnas with their followers and farmers.
Both the leaders threatened to continue the stir until farmers get their dues.
Sources said around 1,000 farmers had sold a total of 72,000 quintals of paddy to the Government agencies during Rabi season. Even though four months have elapsed, the peasants have not got their dues.
The farmers said they have already met concerned millers, the Sub-Collector, Collector, Food Supplies Secretary and the Minister and informed them about their dues.
“The officers and the Minister are least bothered about our plights. The current drought situation has also added to woes,” rued some farmers sitting in the dharna with Bahinipati.
However, BJD leader Nanda blamed the district administration for nonpayment of farmers’ dues. “The Government had written to the district Collector for disbursement of pending money to farmers. But, the Collector did not oblige the Government order,” said Nanda.
Meanwhile, the Koraput Farmers’ Association has decided not to cooperate with the Government during Kharif paddy procurement process beginning November 15.