Congress leader Srikant Jena on Saturday urged farmers to drive out the Naveen Patnaik Government in the 2019 elections in case it doesn’t waive farm loans fully and procure paddy at minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 2,900 per quintal.
Jena said this while addressing a massive rally held in front of the Raj Bhawan by the Samajika Nyaya Abhiyan.
“The Chief Minister said the State would be bankrupt if farm loans are waived. While the State has been over-burdened with loans during the Naveen Patnaik Government’s 18 years rule, Patnaik’s statement clearly indicates that his Government is anti-farmer,” alleged Jena.
Jena alleged that the Government has given relaxation of Rs 50,000 crore to mining owners and waived minimum dues of Rs 1,000 for 10 top miners each. Jena said he would be involved in the Samajika Nyaya Abhiyan meetings in villages and make people know about the “wealthy animals” and their pets’. He demanded that the State Government provide monthly financial support of Rs 3,000 to each unemployed youth till he/she gets employed.
Alleging that the Narendra Modi Government at the Centre has betrayed farmers, the Congress leader said voters have given befitting reply in three States, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
The meeting was presided over by Abhiyan connvenor Akshay Kumar Mallick. Former Union leader Kanhu Charnan Lenka, noted environmentalist Prafulla Samantara and two other convenors, former MLA Krushna Chandra Sagrai and Debi Prasad Prusti shared the dais.
Among others, former MLA Kulamani Rout, Gagan Jena, Manindra Samal, Bishnu Charan Mohanty, Geetanjali Mahant, Sandhya Mohapatra, Janaki Mallick amd Mahammad Alli spoke.