Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Sunday announced a series of statewide protests from February 2 to 17, culminating in a massive public rally in Bhubaneswar on February 24, to highlight the farmer crisis and deteriorating law-and-order situation in Odisha.
Addressing a press conference held at Shankha Bhavan here, senior BJD leaders, including Debi Mishra, Sanjay Das Burma and Arun Sahu, sharply criticised the ruling BJP government for its alleged failures in addressing acute agricultural distress and rising crime. The party pointed to severe shortages of fertilisers, widespread black marketing, and significant delays in paddy procurement.
Acharya, BJD’s farmer cell convener, described the current kharif paddy procurement as a “complete disaster.” He noted that only about 5 lakh of 19.66 lakh registered farmers have managed to sell their produce. “Procurement has remained substantially short of the state’s ambitious target of 73 lakh metric tonnes. Around 25 lakh metric tonnes paddy have been procured so far representing just 34% of the target,” he claimed.
The senior BJD leader contrasted this with neighbouring Chhattisgarh, a smaller state with lower production, which has already procured 1.26 lakh metric tonnes against its target of 80 lakh metric tonnes. He warned that delays in kharif procurement would severely impact farmers’ ability to finance rabi (dalua) paddy cultivation, which has already begun in irrigated areas.
Acharya also criticised the government for widespread deductions (katni-chhatni) despite promises of procurement without any cuts, and for failing to lift last year’s procured paddy from millers — 9% of kharif rice and the entire rabi rice in 22 districts remain pending.
BJD vice-president Dasburma pointed at delays in opening mandis, forcing small farmers into distress sales to middlemen. He said that farmers in various districts have been compelled to protest on roads demanding paddy lifting, yet the situation has not improved.
Sahu focused on the deteriorating law and order situation, claiming that over 40,000 women have been victims of various crimes in recent times. He alleged that Odisha’s reputation as a peaceful state has been shattered, with rising communal tensions, riots, and attacks on minorities. Sahu accused BJP leaders and workers of “capturing” police stations, making ordinary citizens afraid to approach them for help. “The BJP government alone is responsible for this breakdown in law and order,” he alleged.
BJD’s political secretary Santosh Mishra and former minister Tukuni Sahu, both PAC members, were present.
