Odisha Bandh a ‘Super Flop’: Minister Krushna Patra claims farmers stayed away

Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra on Wednesday dismissed the Odisha bandh called by the Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan (NNKS) as a “super flop”, asserting that farmers across the state did not participate in the protest.

Addressing the media, the minister said the bandh failed to draw support from the farming community. “No genuine farmers came out on the streets in support of the bandh. Real cultivators did not block roads or take part in any protest anywhere in the state,” Patra said.

He claimed the lack of participation reflected the confidence of farmers in the state government and accused the organisation of attempting to mislead the public. “Such efforts have failed, as farmers are standing firmly with the government,” he added.

Paddy Procurement Progressing Smoothly

Highlighting the state’s procurement performance, Patra said paddy procurement was progressing smoothly across Odisha. As of Tuesday, 37,91,225 metric tonnes of paddy had been procured statewide.

The minister further informed that over Rs 8,000 crore has already been transferred directly to farmers’ bank accounts. While procurement has been completed in several districts, the process is nearing completion in others.

Reiterating the government’s commitment to the farming community, Patra said paddy procurement operations were being carried out in a transparent and orderly manner, ensuring timely payments and minimal inconvenience to cultivators.

Also Read: Odisha disrupted by 8-hour NNKS bandh over paddy procurement, smart meters, PUCC fine

“The bandh did not have any impact because farmers are satisfied. The Odisha bandh is a super flop, and farmers are with the state government,” the minister said.