Cong serves privilege notice against Odisha Agri Minister

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Mar 14:

The Congress today served a breach of privilege notice against Odisha Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Minister Pradeep Maharathy for presenting misleading information in the State Assembly in connection with the suicide of a farmer Hadu Bagarti alias Khainu Bagarti in Bargarh district.

Senior Congressman and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Narasingha Mishra has served the breach of privilege notice against the Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Minister.

While the House witnessed ruckus over the breach of privilege notice and it was adjourned by the Speaker till tomorrow after the placing of standing committee report on the Assembly budget.

“They have visited the farmland which is said to have suffered drought. They have taken a photograph of it. The crop has been completely damaged. They have also found documents that the farmer had taken loans. They have attached these documents with their report. After obtaining all these, during the Zero Hour I had served privilege notice and in it I had mentioned these facts. I have also placed the Lawyers’ Committee report with the Speaker which contains all evidence that statement of the Agriculture Minister in the House was not based on facts. It is completely incorrect. The farmer and his wife had no quarrel. Hadu Bagarti has committed suicide due to crop loss and loan burden. Since the Minister has knowingly given misleading statement in the House, the dignity of the House has suffered. So therefore, action should be taken against the Minister and government employees responsible for this,” stated Mishra outside the House speaking to reporters.

The ruling BJD, on the other hand, has asked the Opposition to wait for the report.

“Let’s wait for the report. Family feud doesn’t necessarily mean quarrel between the husband and the wife. It can be with different people. Government never hides truth, nor will ever do so. No government ever does that. The government presents inquiry report prepared by officials per established procedure. The government will certainly present facts as obtained from the inquiry report,” said treasury bench Chief Whip Ananta Das speaking to reporters outside the House in his reactions on LoP’s breach of privilege notice.

Notably, Maharathy had told in the House that Bargarh farmer Hadu Bagarti had committed suicide due to family feud while the deceased farmer’s wife had refuted the charge.  The Opposition had alleged that the Minister had misled the House by presenting wrong facts.