Bhubaneswar, February 18 – The Odisha Assembly witnessed a major uproar on Wednesday as members of both the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Congress raised concerns over alleged mismanagement in paddy procurement across the state.
As soon as the proceedings began, BJD members holding banners approached Speaker Surama Padhy's podium and started chanting slogans against the government over the "chaos" at local markets.
In a unique form of protest, some BJD legislators placed paddy and bags of paddy on the reporters' table inside the assembly. Members of the Congress also raised slogans against the government over issues concerning farmers.
The uproar created by the opposition members forced Odisha Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy to adjourn the assembly until 11:30 a.m., and later again until 4 p.m.
Speaking to the media, BJD Chief Whip Pramila Mallik said that the party had repeatedly requested the state government and had also personally met Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and the agriculture minister to draw their attention to the plight of farmers, including the non-lifting of paddy and the continued practice of "katni-chhatni" (withholding and re-weighing) during paddy procurement under various pretenses. She further alleged that farmers cultivated more paddy this year, encouraged by the government's promise of Rs 3,100 per quintal, including an input subsidy of Rs 800.
Targeting the state government, Mallik said that farmers are now in distress due to its decision to impose a ceiling of 150 quintals of paddy per farmer for the disbursement of the Rs 800 per quintal input subsidy, in addition to the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 2,300 per quintal.
She noted that, contrary to the government's promise, illegal deductions of paddy (katni-chhatni) of up to 10 kg per quintal by millers during procurement have been occurring unabated at local markets across the state. Farmers are being forced to sell their paddy at much lower prices through middlemen.
The senior BJD leader also alleged a lack of consistency in the statements issued by the Chief Minister and the Agriculture and Food Supplies Ministers over the issue. She said that until the government announces a specific time period for lifting all the farmers' paddy, the BJD will continue its protest.
The Congress leaders also raised the same issues, alleging that the state government, in collusion with rice millers, is forcing farmers to resort to distress selling of paddy.
Meanwhile, the ruling party leaders criticised the BJD and the Congress, alleging that opposition members are deliberately stalling House proceedings to prevent any discussions on the development of Odisha.
