Pandemonium over farmer's issue continues in Odisha Assembly

Pandemonium prevailed for the second consecutive day inside the Odisha Assembly as both opposition and ruling party members created ruckus over farmers issue on Wednesday.

Unable to run the House smoothly, Speaker Pradip Amat adjourned the House till 3 p.m.

As soon as the House assembled for the day, Congress and BJP members went near the podium of the Speaker shouting slogans on farmers' plight while the ruling BJD members raised slogans standing at their seats demanding hike in Minimum Support Price (MSP) of paddy.

While the Congress members were seen wearing gowns imprinted with texts of slogans, the Bharatiya Janata Party members protested holding thermocol replicas of pesticides.

After the Speaker adjourned the House, the Biju Janata Dal members took out a rally from the Assembly premises to Raj Bhawan. They submitted a memorandum, addressed to the President Ram Nath Kovind and Governor S.C. Jamir seeking hike in paddy MSP by the Centre.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised to hike the MSP on paddy by 1.5 times of the production cost.

"But, the central government increased a meager Rs 80. Besides, the union government has also dishonoured the state assembly, which has unanimously passed a resolution to hike paddy MSP to Rs 2,930 per quintal," said Finance Minister Sashi Bhusan Behera.

Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra blamed both the BJD and the BJP for "shedding crocodile tears" for farmers.

"The ruling members are saying that they are ready for discussion, but are not doing so when motion notice is being moved. They don't have the courage to face protest. Both BJD and BJP are shedding crocodile tears for farmers," said Mishra.

The opposition leader said he has written a letter to the Speaker seeking his intervention to continue the House proceedings smoothly.

BJP MLA Pradip Purohit said the state government is not concerned about the agony of farmers.

"While the farmers are in miserable situation following drought, pest attack and unseasonal rain, the state government did not announce bonus on paddy. The ruling party is creating drama in the House," said the BJP member.

--IANS

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