Farmer suicide: Odisha ministers face protest in districts

In the backdrop of farmers committing suicide across the state, the ministers in the Odisha government are facing protest-demonstrations during their visit to the districts.
As many as 15 BJP workers were today detained on the charge of opposing the visit of Industries and School and Mass Education Minister Debi Mishra and Energy Minister Pranab Prakas Das to Boudh district, District Superintendent of Police Buttula Gangadhar said.
Both Mishra and Das were in Boudh district to review implementation of different programmes of their respective departments.
Yesterday, two other ministers - Agriculture Minister Pradeep Kumar Maharathy and Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Sudam Marandi - were reportedly shown black flags by supporters of opposition political parties during their visit to Balangir and Ganjam districts respectively.

At least six farmers have allegedly committed suicide in Balangir district alone, out of 48 cases of farmer suicide received by the state government.
In another incident, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Sudam Marandi faced an embarrassing situation during his visit to Ganjam district yesterday. Some BJP workers blocked Marandi's road and showed black flags to him.
Several minister are scheduled to visit other districts as asked by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.