Cong, BJP walk out on issue of distress sale of paddy

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Feb 12:

Dissatisfied with the minister’s reply during a debate on distress sale of paddy by farmers. the Opposition Congress and BJP staged a walkout  in the Odisha Assembly on Thursday.

Initiating the debate on the adjournment motion in the House, Opposition chief whip Taraprasad Bahinipati said he would take retirement from active politics if at least one mandi for procurement of paddy from farmers was open in the chief minister’s home district. He demanded the arrest of unscrupulous dealers under NSA.

“Let there be a probe and if there is a single mandi open in Ganjam district, I will take sanyas from politics. There is a need for arresting these unscrupulous millers under NSA”, said Bahinipati speaking to reporters outside the House.

Hhowever, Minister Food Supply and Consumer Affairs Sanjay Dasburma described the allegations of the Opposition as politically motivated while appreciating certain constructive suggestions made by the members during the debate to make the process of procurement smoother as well as free of glitches.

“These allegations are completely politically motivated. Some constructive proposals for arrangements at the mandi and for improvements in the online registration of farmers will be definitely taken of.” said Dasburma outside the House.

Another suggestion made by ruling BJD member Padmanav Behera  to club the two departments of Food Supply and Cooperation under one minister for convenience of the paddy procurement process may stir a hornet’s nest in the future.

“I gave a proposal for achieving cent per cent achievement. There is a need for better coordination between the Food Supply and Cooperation departments, which would be possible by keeping both the departments under one minister,” said Behera.