Mrunal Manmay Dash

Bhadrak: Members of the State BJP unit led by party chief, Samir Mohanty turned the heat on Odisha government with a massive protest at Bhadrak district supply office on Thursday alleging corruption and irregularity in paddy procurement in several mandis in Bhandaripokhari constituency.

The Opposition party argued that delay in lifting paddy is not the only problem in the area, but 'Katni Chhatni' to the tunes of 5-10 kgs per quintal in the guise of Fair Average Quality (FAQ) has been a major headache for the farmers in the region.

BJP leader, Badri Narayan Dhal said, "There are 32 Mandis operating in Bhandaripokhari constituency and corruption runs rampant in all. Farmer registration is a sham and the department is deducting 5-10kgs of paddy per quintal in the name of FAQ. Besides, farmers are not getting the price for their sacks too."

"The farmers who have received tokens 20-25 days back are yet to sell their crop," Dhal alleged.

He demanded the concerned minister and higher authorities of the department to visit the mandis to get an idea of the farmers' problems as soon as possible.

Similarly, Odisha BJP Chief, Samir Mohanty questioned the Katni Chhatni in paddy procurement and said, "I want to know under whose order, officials are deducting 5-10kgs of paddy per quintal."

"And if there are no orders for Katni Chhatni, then it is like an extortion racket operating in all mandis," said Mohanty in a scathing attack on the Odisha government.

"BJP is committed to resolve the farmer issues and we will move from Panchayat to Parliament if needed," concluded Mohanty.

(Edited By Suryakant Jena)

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