Uproar in Odisha Assembly on farmers' issues

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Assembly witnessed uproar for the sixth consecutive day today over farmers' issues forcing Speaker Niranjan Pujari to adjourn the House twice till 3 pm.

While the question hour was washed away due to ruckus created by both Congress and BJP members demanding formation of a House Committee to probe the suicides of farmers, the House could not function later as opposition MLAs created commotion on enhancement of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of paddy.

As soon as the House assembled for the question hour, Congress and BJP members rushed to the well and wanted the Speaker to announce setting up a House Committee to probe the suicide cases of farmers. They said that the people had no faith in the administrative inquiry and they wanted that the MLAs enquired into the sensitive matter.

They also shouted anti-government slogans. Unable to run the House, Speaker Niranjan Pujari adjourned it for an hour till 11.30 am.

After the House reassembled, the House again witnessed uproar as Congress and BJP members demanded increase in MSP of paddy to Rs 2,800 per quintal against the existing price of Rs 1450 per quintal.

Following the uproar, the Speaker adjourned the House till 3 PM.

Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra of Congress said that suicides of fermers could be controlled if they got better price of paddy. He demanded passing of a resolution in this regard in the House.

BJP legislature party leader K V Singhdeo said he had already given a notice to the Speaker for passing a resolution demanding increase in the rate of the MSP on paddy. The farmers spent Rs 1800 per quintal for paddy production, while they got only Rs 1450 per quintal. Therefore it should be at least Rs 2800 per quintal of paddy.

Senior BJD member and party spokesman S N Patro later told reporters that though the state government had made several requests to the Centre to increase the paddy MSP, no action had been taken.