Is Odisha Govt Hiding Mandi Irregularities Under BJP MLA’s Apology Demand Garb?

Bhubaneswar: Pandemonium continued to prevail in Odisha Assembly for the fifth consecutive day on Wednesday due to uproar by opposition Congress and BJP members over irregularities in paddy procurement.

The unruly scenes and demand of the treasury bench for an unconditional apology by the BJP member Subash Panigrahi for his attempt to commit suicide forced the Speaker Surjya Narayan Patra to adjourn the House till 4 pm.

Soon after the adjournment, BJD member went on a rally to Raj Bhawan and submitted a memorandum to Governor Ganeshi Lal requesting him to direct the BJP member to tender an unconditional apology.

“The suicide attempt by Deogarh BJP MLA has not only tarnished the sanctity of the State Assembly but also set a bad precedent across the country. Till the BJP MLA tenders unconditional apology, we will continue to stall the House proceedings,” BJD spokesperson Pramila Mallick told mediapersons.

In his reaction, BJP MLA and deputy leader of the Opposition Bishnu Sethi said the main issue is the non-procurement of paddy.

“The Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare minister in a statement in the Assembly on February 26 had said the government will procure the remaining paddy lying at several mandis on a war-footing. But, there is no procurement at any mandi till date,” he said.

Referring to the death of Bagarti, a 35-year-old farmer of Rengali, who committed suicide on Tuesday as he was unable to sell his paddy at mandi, Sethi said let the government probe into this incident to ascertain the truth.

“The fact is that the BJD, in an attempt to divert this major issue, is demanding an apology from Panigrahi. Why will Panigrahi apologize and why not the minister as he has furnished wrong information in the House? Even the Speaker has told the media that Panigrahi should apologize (for staging a suicide attempt inside the Assembly). But, he has not uttered a single word on the wrong statement by the concerned minister in the House. Our main lookout is to ensure the procurement of remaining paddy and we will continue our agitation till the procurement is completed,” Sethi pointed out.

Also Read: Stalemate Over Paddy Procurement; Odisha Assembly Adjourned Till 4 PM