Bhubaneswar: A day after the Centre hiked the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy by Rs 65/quintal for the crop year 2019-20, the ruling-BJD and Congress today came down heavily on the BJP for low hike in the rate.
The BJD launched a direct attack on the BJP-led Centre and alleged that the previous hike of Rs 200, announced a year ago, was just done for getting votes during 2019 elections.
BJD spokesperson Pushpendra Singh Deo said, “The decision by the Centre has frustrated the farming community of the State and it is a matter of grave concern. Our party will rake up the issue at the Parliament, State Assembly and other forums to force the union government to reconsider the decision.”
The Congress which also targeted the Centre over the development alleged that the BJD is hand in glove with the BJP and so it is not worried for the farmers.
“The Centre had hiked the paddy MSP by a better margin keeping in view of elections 2019, but now after being re-elected by the people, it decided to go otherwise because it thinks that even if it does not hike the rate, it won’t have to worry since there is a lot of time before the next polls,” said senior Congress leader Jayadev Jena.
However, BJP leader Prithviraj Harichandan said that the Odisha government should concentrate on its own task rather than criticising the Centre.
“Instead of criticising the Centre, the State government should rather ensure how the present paddy MSP of Rs 1,815 directly goes into the pockets of farmers without being misused by millers and brokers,” said Harichandan.