The State Assembly on Friday witnessed pandemonium and was adjourned twice due to protests by Opposition Congress and BJP members over the Government’s “changed” paddy procurement policy.
Though the Question Hour was smooth, the Opposition members raised the issue during the Zero Hour and demanded a statement from Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain regarding the “changed” policy.
“Let the Minister make a statement in the House. The Labour Minister (Sushant Singh) has yesterday said the centralised token system (for paddy procurement) would be relaxed for the farmers in the Hirakud Dam command area. Is it the Government’s stand?” Leader of Opposition Pradipta Kumar Naik (BJP) asked.
Senior BJP member Jayanarayan Mishra also criticised the Government for making policy announcements outside the House when the Assembly is in session.
Congress Legislature Party Leader Narasingha Mishra also raised the same issue and slammed the Government for adopting two policies in paddy procurement. “How the Government will have one policy for the farmers of Sambalpur and Bargarh districts and another for rest of the districts. Will the farmers of Kalahandi and Balangir also enjoy the same facility given to the farmers of the Hirakud command area?” Mishra asked.
Labour Minister Sushant Singh along with Deputy Government Chief Whip of Assembly Rohit Pujari had on Thursday announced in Sambalpur that the farmers can sell their paddy even without having the centralised token, a mandatory for sale of paddy in the market yards.
Both Singh and Pujari had rushed to the agitating farmers in Sambalpur and Bargarh where National Highways were blocked demanding withdrawal of the centralised token system.
Government Chief Whip Pramila Mallick said, “Relaxation for farmers in the Hirakud command area may be personal views of the Labour Minister and the Deputy Chief Whip. Both of them have not come to the House today.”
The centralised token generated from Bhubaneswar is being given to the farmers. The farmers, who get the centralised tokens, can only sell their paddy in the market yards. However, the farmers of Sambalpur and Bargarh were protesting the system and demanding its withdrawal.
Senior Congress member Santosh Singh Saluja demanded a statement from the Government, saying, “The concerned Minister does not know what the other Minister decides on the paddy procurement policy,” said Saluja, adding that the House should be apprised about the development.
The Opposition members rushed to the Well of the House and shouted slogans. Unable to run the House, Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro adjourned the proceedings twice. However, normalcy returned in the House after Patro asked the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister to make a statement.
“I will collect facts and inform the House about it (change in the paddy procurement policy) on Monday,” Minister Swain said.