Odisha: BJP Warns Protest At Mandis Across Malkangiri

Malkangiri: Following allegation of massive irregularities in the on-going paddy procurement process in the State, members of BJP’s farmer wing (Krushak Morcha) led by MLA Aditya Madhi paid surprise visits at different mandis in the district on Monday to take stock of the situation.

Voicing their concern over the alleged discrepancies in the procurement of paddy crop in the district, the BJP activists alleged that there has been an unholy nexus between the middlemen and staff of Cooperative Societies resulting in the irregularities.

According to reports, hundreds of farmers in Malkangiri had demanded the intervention of the district administration and State Government over the involvement of middlemen in preparing forged documents in the name of farmers.

As per their allegations, the middlemen had been registering themselves as farmers and obtaining identity cards from Cooperative Societies.

“There has been an unholy nexus between the middlemen and staff at Cooperative Societies with the intention to carry out irregularities,” alleged Madhi.

Meanwhile, the BJP workers threatened to stage protests if the issue was not addressed immediately.

“The State government has completely failed to provide tokens to the genuine farmers and streamline the paddy procurement process. It is illegal to allow ghost farmers to participate in paddy procurement as this has delayed the process. It must stop immediately,” said Madhi.

Meanwhile, party workers tried to spread awareness among farmers about the provisions in the new Farm laws.

“Reforms in the Farm laws have been approved for the benefit of farmers in the country,” a BJP worker said.