BJD’s Mass Protest Over Price Rise In Front Of Lok Seva Bhawan On Jan 6; BJP Terms It ‘Drama’

Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the main Opposition in Odisha, on Friday reiterated its decision to hold a massive demonstration in Bhubaneswar on January 6 against what it called unjustified price rise of essential commodities.

Addressing a presser, senior BJD leaders said that the double engine government of BJP has failed to control price rise which has hit the poor and middle class. “The rising prices of essential commodities have severely impacted the common people, especially those in rural areas. The food inflation has soared to 9.4 per cent. The price rise impact is 5.6 per cent in Odisha and it is slight more in rural areas. The increase in prices of fuel, edible oil and essential items has disturbed the budget of every household,” said BJD coordination committee chairperson Debi Prasad Mishra.

Former MLA Sanjay Dasburma added that they would hit the streets in the state capital over price rise of all essential commodities and inflation. “A mass protest will be held in front of Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar,” he said.

He added that the protest will been intensified in all 30 districts thereafter.

Media Coordinator Pratap Jena, MLA & Opposition Whip in Odisha Legislative Assembly Pramila Mallik and Youth President Byomkesh Ray also outlined the reasons for this protest and stressed the urgent need for the government to take immediate action.

On December 18 last year, BJD president and former chief minister Naveen Patnaik had called upon party leaders to raise voice against the price rise in different forums as a responsible Opposition.

BJP spokesperson Anil Biswal, however, termed the protest call as a drama being staged by the regional party. “Odisha had highest inflation rate of 7.1 per cent in April last year when the Naveen-Patnaik government was in power. The state had logged a retail inflation of over 7% for six months in a row. They are talking about rise in the prices of potato and onion. Why did the BJD government took no steps to improve potato production during its 24-year rule? Whom are they questioning now? Why no cold storage was built?” he ashed.

Biswal added that the BJP government has made provisions in the budget for improving food production, thereby reducing dependence on other states.