Bhubaneswar: The Odisha unit of BJP has accused the ruling BJD of collecting Rs 1,000 crore from paddy procurement for party fund every year.
Speaking at a press meet in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, BJP spokesman Manoj Mahapatra said the Agriculture, Civil Supply and Cooperative departments of the government in association with the rice millers have been collecting the money from the farmers through paddy procurement.
Stating that there has been no improvement in economic condition of the farmers during the last 24 years of BJD rule in the state, Mahapatra said, “The farming sector is the most neglected during all these years. The farmers’ income has increased by Rs 27 during the period. While their income was Rs 5,085 per head when the BJD first came to power, it has gone up to Rs 5,112 now.”
A big syndicate was working to exploit the farmers, he said adding that Odisha farmers’ income is the lowest and expenditure highest in the country.
The BJP further said the paddy procurement process is mired in irregularities, causing heavy loss to the farmers. “The millers are deducting five to six kg per quintal of paddy in the name of “Katni-Chhatni” (incidental loss),” he said.
Stating that the farmers were forced to go for distress sale as they were unable to get the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy, he said while the MSP in neighbouring states is over Rs 3,000 per quintal of paddy, it is Rs 2,139 in Odisha.
Mahapatra said the BJP will stage a mass agitation across the state to stop exploitation of the farmers by the government to serve the interest of BJD.
