BJD tears into BJP over paddy MSP hike issue in New Delhi

Bhubaneswar/New Delhi: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday lashed out at the BJP government at the Centre accusing the saffron party of turning blind to the paddy MSP (minimum support price) demand of the farmers of the State.

Addressing a farmers' convention (Krushak Adhikar Samabesh) today at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi, Patnaik said that the BJD was forced to come and hold a demonstration in the national capital due to the sheer apathy of the Centre towards the interests of Odisha farmers.

Reiterating his demand for financial autonomy, the CM further said: "Had we been given financial autonomy, we would not have to come to New Delhi. We can help the State develop and prosper with its own funds."

[caption id="attachment_331842" align="aligncenter" width="750"] OPCC Chief Niranjan Patnaik (File Pic)[/caption]

He said that if the Odisha government had any concerns about the farmers of the State, it would have waived off farm loans alike Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

Moreover, in Odisha, BJP activists and farmers today staged demonstration in Bhubaneswar alleging severe irregularities in paddy procurement in different mandis across the State.

Besides, Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan (NNKS) took out rally from Old Town in Bhubaneswar to Raj Bhawan protesting the farmers' convention of the BJD in New Delhi. NNKS alleged that the BJD should stop 'dramma' and pay security allowances to farmers.

Later in the day, a BJD delegation led by party supremo and CM Naveen Patnaik met President Ram Nath Kovind and handed him over a memorandum over the paddy MSP hike demand.