Odisha BJP Counters BJD’s Stir Plan Over Paddy Procurement With Protest Against Law & Order Failure

Bhubaneswar: The ruling BJD and opposition BJP in Odisha have locked horns over two issues of paddy procurement and law and order situation. While the BJD has announces state-wide protest against the Centre’s decision for reduction in allocation for paddy procurement and stopping the PMGKAY, the BJP would launch 3-day protest over deterioration of law and order.

The BJD, which has been crying hoarse over reduction of Rs 20,000 crore in paddy procurement in the recent Union budget, on Monday announced that it would resort to a state-wide protest against the Centre’s decision on February 14.

In retaliation to the BJD’s plan, the BJP highlighted the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, particularly in the wake of murder of minister Naba Kishore Das by an ASI of police recently.

Speaking to media persons in Bhubaneswar, state general secretary of BJP Golak Mohapatra said the BJD protest was a ploy to divert the people’s attention from total breakdown of the law and order in the state. Stating that the BJD has been hoodwinking the people by claiming to provide free rice, he said the ruling party has been diverting the rice from Central scheme and supplying it as its own scheme.

On the paddy procurement allegation, Mohapatra said, “While the Centre was procuring 30 lakh tonne in 2014, it has procured 75 lakh tonne in 2021-22. During COVID pandemic, the BJP government provided 5 kg rice and 1 kg dal to 3.25 crore population of Odisha. While the state government provided just 5 kg rice during the period, it claimed that the total 10 kg rice and 1 kg dal was given to the people under its own scheme.”

He further said the Centre has announced to provide rice under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) free of cost. It would bear the entire cost of the rice at Rs 37.28 per kg and transportation, he added.

On the other hand, the BJD has failed to ensure security even to its own leaders as was evident from daylight murder of its senior minister, he said adding that the women and children are not safe in the state as the criminals and ruling party leaders were hands in gloves.

He said the BJP, as a responsible opposition, will unmask the BJD during 3-day protest across the state. The BJP leaders and workers would stage demonstration in front of collector offices in all districts on February 15. Besides, it would hold a massive demonstration in front of Raj Bhawan in Bhubaneswar on February 16.