Odisha Assembly panel seeks date with PM to discuss paddy MSP

The Standing Committee of Odisha Assembly will seek an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to press for hike in Minimum Support Price (MSP) of paddy.
Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat will write to the PM for a meeting over the price of paddy, said Agriculture Minister Damodar Rout.
In the past too, the panel had approached the Prime Minister's Office twice but did not receive any reply, he said.
"The House Committee has decided to make another attempt. This time, the Speaker will seek an appointment instead of the Assembly secretary," said Rout.
Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra asserted if the PM does not spare time for the panel this time, the members will stage a protest in front of the Parliament.

The Assembly had on March 25 adopted a unanimous resolution, recommending the Union government to raise the minimum support price of paddy to Rs 2,930 per quintal. Opposition BJP members had also given their consent to the proposal.
The Centre had on June 20 fixed MSP on paddy at Rs 1,550 per quintal, increasing it by Rs 80. The move evoked strong criticism from the opposition parties.
The BJD and Congress members alleged that the Prime Minister has failed to keep his promises made to the farmers during the 2014 general elections.