BHUBANESWAR: BJP’s farmer wing will organise farmer conventions at different places of the state protesting Odisha government’s alleged apathetic attitude towards its farmers. It will raise the issues like distress sale of paddy, alleged irregularities in token system for paddy procurement at Mandi and harassing farmers during procurement.
BJP Krushak Morcha state president Pradip Purohit said they will hold farmer conventions (Chasi Samabesh) at six places in the state by end of this month. The conventions will be held at Cuttack on December 19, at Aska in Ganjam on December 20, at Jeypore on December 22, at Dhenkanal on December 23, at Balasore on December 24 and at Bargarh on December 26.
He said the members of Krushak Morcha will march towards 3,500 Mandis across the state to protest the anti-farmer attitude of the Odisha government. “We will intensify the stirs in every district,” he added.
Purohit said Naveen government has failed to ensure farmers get the existing minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 1868 because farmers were at the mercy of middlemen. “Because of irregularities in token system in Mandis, small farmers sell their paddy between Rs 1200 and Rs 1400 per quintal to middlemen against government’s MSP of Rs 1868 per quintal. Distress sale of paddy is happening across the state,” he added.
Meanwhile, state unit of the All India Kishan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) will stage protest in front of ADM office here on Monday demanding withdrawal of farm laws. Showing solidarity to the farmers’ movement in Delhi, the committee has been staging protests in different manners seeking fulfilment of demands of farmers.
