BJD-BJP Blame Game Over Farmers’ Issue Continues In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Even as over a fortnight protest of farmers against the Centre’s new agriculture laws leads to petitioning Supreme Court for intervention, the ruling BJD and opposition BJP continue to play out the issue in Odisha.

Soon after Odisha president of BJP Kishan Morcha Pradip Purohit on Friday accused the BJD government of neglecting the development of farmers during its two decades of rule, Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain said the Centre should have discussed with all the stakeholders before passing the Bills.

Expressing optimism that the successful model of paddy procurement system in the state would not be upset, Swain said, “We are reaching the poorest of the poor farmers through the data and procuring their produce at the Minimum Support Price (MSP).”

On the farmers’ agitation in many parts of the state, the minister said, “Farmers want more value for their paddy that was produced from non-irrigated land. We cannot change it midway. However, we will look into the matter.”

But Purohit said other than passing resolutions in Assembly, it has not been able to ensure that farmers sell their produce at MSP fixed by the Centre.