Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Mohan Majhi government during a rally near the Assembly here to protest the alleged mismanagement in paddy procurement and the “poor” law and order situation in Odisha.
Addressing the BJD’s Chasi Surakhya Samabesh, the party supremo accused the government of hollow slogans and failing to deliver on promises to farmers, despite being in power for almost two years. “This government chants ‘Jai Kisan’ as a slogan, but in practice, it says ‘Bhago Kisan’ (run away, farmer),” Naveen remarked, highlighting the stark contrast between rhetoric and reality.
“People need service, not leaders’ sermons. Governments don’t run on narratives; they need action,” he stressed.
Contrasting with the previous BJD regime, Naveen said that his government had introduced a separate agriculture budget, launched the KALIA scheme, provided credit facilities and strengthened irrigation support. He then questioned what the present ‘double engine’ government has done for the farmers and listed their grievances: Farmers not receiving fertilisers on time, the government failing to procure paddy adequately, rising instances of unauthorised deductions (katani chhatani), delayed payments, and officials dismissing complaints by labelling farmers as liars.
The BJD leader revealed he had written a letter to the government outlining specific solutions, including forming special squads to curb illegal deductions, breaking alleged nexus between millers and officials, removing the 150-quintal ceiling on input subsidies, ensuring Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) payments to farmers within 48 hours, and procuring open-stored paddy within 72 hours. “Though 15 days have passed since then, no action has been taken. Crores of rupees are spent on publicity instead of addressing farmer woes,” he alleged.
Naveen further noted that the BJD has been fighting for farmers in the Assembly for the last eight days, but the government has shown no regard for them.
Broadening his attack, he criticised the deteriorating law and order situation, stating no one feels safe in the state. “Farmers are denied their rights, women lack security, youth face unemployment, and exams suffer repeated paper leaks. This government has not been able to conduct even a single exam properly,” he said, adding that common people’s suffering continues unabated while the administration fails to act.
Naveen asserted that the Biju Janata Dal would continue its fight for farmers’ rights and hold the government accountable by waking it up from its “Kumbhakarna-like slumber” (deep, indifferent sleep).
