Bandh Observed In Protest Against Irregularities In Paddy Procurement In Odisha’s Kalahandi

Bhawanipatna: Kalahandi bandh, called by Odisha unit of BJP in protest against irregularities in paddy procurement, was observed on Thursday.

The BJP workers, led by party’s district president Artatrana Mohapatra, enforced the bandh in major urban areas in Kalahandi on the day. Schools, colleges, government and private offices, banks, post offices and markets in district headquarters Bhawanipatna remained closed in response to the bandh.

The district leaders of BJP and Krushak Morcha staged picketing at prominent junctions of College Square, Nakatiguda, Ghodaghat, Dayanidhi, Maning and Medinipur in the town. However, no untoward incident was reported during the bandh.

The BJP and its farmer wing had called the bandh in protest against irregularities in procurement of Kharif crop of paddy. They alleged that government officials in collusion with rice mills were exploiting the farmers.

They said the mills were deducting 7-10 kg per a quintal of paddy towards “Katni Chhatni” (wastage) in the mandis (procurement centres). Though the harvest of paddy was over by November 15, the mandis were opened in December forcing the farmers to face a tough time in storing their produce for sale.

Besides, token have been issued till March for which the farmers would be forced to go for distress sale to the middlemen of the millers, the BJP leaders alleged.