Bhubaneswar: Reiterating that the anti-farmer policies of the Biju Janata Dal have destroyed the agri-sector of Odisha, Odisha Congress president castigated the mega farmers’ convention being organised by the BJD in New Delhi terming it as a big farce. He further called the party's Delhi visit a picnic which costs Rs 52 lakh.
The response of the OPCC chief has come at a time when a few pictures showing BJD leaders and young girls sharing lighter moments allegedly in the special train hired by the BJD for its members and farmers to travel to Delhi, have gone viral on social media.
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In a series of tweets, Niranjan took a jibe at the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD and ridiculed the party’s Delhi rally as a picnic. “Today Naveen Patnaik and Co. are going on a picnic to Delhi which costs Rs 52 lakh. They are doing this in the name of the farmers. Had this money been given to farmers in debt, many precious lives of our annadatas could have been saved. The BJD should stop shedding crocodile tears in the name of our farmers, as they are equally responsible for destroying the agri sector of Odisha. Their farmers' rally is a big farce,” he tweeted.
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Pointing out that the rally is a hogwash, Niranjan Patnaik questioned, “If Congress Governments in MP, Rajasthan, Punjab, Karnataka and Chhattisgarh can waive off farm-loans, what is stopping Naveen Babu from helping our farmers?
He further mentioned, “If the BJD had any concern about the farmers of Odisha, they would have waived off farm loans like the Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh Congress governments, and also announced bonus on MSP.”
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In another tweet, the PCC chief called Naveen Patnaik as the State’s Jumla King. "In 2007 CM Naveen Patnaik promised that 35% of agri land in Odisha will be irrigated. In 2009 he promised free electricity to farmers. Both these promises are unfulfilled. Shri Patnaik is Odisha's Jumla king!" he stated.
BJP State vice-president Samir Mohanty also leveled similar allegations and said, "Odisha BJP strongly criticizes ruling-BJD's protest in New Delhi. The State government, without opening the mandis for the farmers, is on a picnic to Delhi."
However, the BJD leaders are yet to respond on the Opposition's allegations.