BJD to hold protests across Odisha against paddy MSP from July 10

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s ruling Biju Janata Dal ( BJD) today announced to resort to statewide protest against Union government’s recent decision to increase the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy by just Rs 80 per quintal for 2017-18.

“The BJD will stage demonstration at all the 314 blocks in the state from July 10 to July 18 against Modi government’s recent decision to increase the MSP for paddy by just Rs 80 per quintal,” said senior BJD leader Debi Prasad Mishra here at a press conference.

Terming the Central government anti-farmer, he said, “As per its election manifesto, the BJP should increase the MSP of paddy to one and a half time of the production cost. However, the Narendra Modi government has betrayed the people of the country in general and farmers in particular after coming into the power”.

The party also reiterated its demands to raise the MSP for paddy to Rs 2,930 per quintal.

The Odisha Assembly, in its budget session, had passed a unanimous resolution to this purpose.

“A House Committee was formed to submit and discuss the said resolution with the Prime Minister. But to their dismay, Modi didn’t give any time to meet them,” Mishra said.

BJD farmers’ wing will stage demonstration — two hours every day at all the 314 blocks in the state against the central government’s apathy towards farmers’ community, he concluded.

On the other hand, the Bharatiya Janata Party state unit blamed the BJD for doing nothing for the farmers.

“BJD is in power for 17 years. But it failed to improve irrigation, electricity and other issues which further resulted in low production and farmers committing suicide. If it is concerned about the plight of farmers, why is it not waiving off loans for the farmer like the BJP-ruled states?” asked party spokesperson Golak Mohapatra. (with IANS inputs)