Odisha Assly passes resolution for two-fold paddy MSP hike

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Mar 25:

Odisha Assembly today passed a unanimous resolution to urge the Centre to increase the minimum support price (MSP) of paddy, in the backdrop of alleged distressed sale contributing to farmer suicides in the state.

The Assembly passed a resolution to hike the MSP of paddy to Rs 2930 per quintal.

For this, a House committee headed by Speaker Niranjan Pujari and comprising of representatives from various political parties will be formed to put forth the demands before Prime Minister Narendra Modi, informed Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy said.

“It has been unanimously decided to increase the minimum support price of paddy to Rs 2930. A House committee will be formed and take up the matter with Prime Minister,”Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy told media outside the House.

The stalemate for over a week ended today as the House returned to normalcy. The business transactions during Question Hour began began sans pandemonium.

During the Zero Hour, Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy moved the resolution for hike in MSP of paddy from Rs 1,470 to Rs 2,500 per quintal. After over three hours of discussion, the members arrived at Rs 2930 as the proposed MSP for paddy.

The Minister informed the House that the state government has been urging to the Centre for raising the MSP to Rs 2,500 per quintal of paddy for the last three years.

Government Chief Whip Ananta Das proposed the formation of the House Committee which was accepted by the Speaker.

Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was, however, skeptical about the resolution.

“The issue of minimum support price figures and later it was decided to ascertain the price as per the costing sheet. Like the state government was shooting letters to Centre, this time also they will do so despite the passing of the unanimous resolution,” BJP leader Pradeep Purohit expressed.