Pandemonium in Odisha Assembly over distress sale of tomatoes

Odisha Assembly today witnessed pandemonium and adjourned twice till afternoon as opposition Congress and BJP members demonstrated in the well of the House over distress sale of tomatoes in the state.

As the Question Hour started, several Congress and BJP members rushed to the well of the House shouting slogans against the BJD government over the issue.

Housing & Urban Development, Water Resources Minister Niranjan Pujari was replying to a question when the shouting started. The House was then adjourned first till 11.30 am.

Noisy scenes prevailed after the House reassembled at 11.30 am as opposition members again raised slogans and created ruckus following which the Speaker adjourned the House till 3 pm.

"Though the state government has been claiming that it has done everything for farmers, the cultivators are forced to go for distress sale of their produces due to lack of proper marketing infrastructure," Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra of the Congress said.

Mishra alleged that the state government giving rosy picture of farmers' welfare while the ground reality is altogether different. There should be a discussion on the issue as farmers are committing suicide due to distress sale of their produces.

BJP Legislature Party leader K V Singhdeo said, instead of giving a helping hand to the farmers, the government has been creating problem for them.

He said the farmers across the state go for distress sale of their produces.

"The state government has failed to create marketing provision for agricultural produces for which the farmers are suffering," BJP MLA Rabi Naik said outside the House.

However, the treasury bench members did not appreciate disruption of the House on the day of presentation of budget.

"This move of the Opposition members on a day when the budget is scheduled to be tabled is not acceptable. The issue could have been raised by them after the Question Hour, during Zero Hour," BJD MLA Sanjay Dasburma said.