BJD braces for protest in New Delhi

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New Delhi: The BJD Tuesday held a preparatory meeting for the Biju Krushak Janata Dal’s (BKJD) protest here January 8 demanding hike in paddy MSP to Rs 2,930 per quintal.
The meeting was attended by state Health Minister Pratap Jena, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Surya Narayan Patro and the BJD MPs.
Speaking to Orissa POST after the meeting, BKJD president and the Rajya Sabha MP Prasanna Acharya said, “We have decided to stage a day-long protest here. People’s representatives from all the spheres, MLAs, MPs, farmers’ representatives and representatives from panchayats will come here and protest against the government. We will also try to meet the President to submit our memorandum.”
Acharya, who said the venue of protest would be finalised in coming days, attacked the Centre for not fulfilling its election commitment.
“BJP has committed to the farmers of India, particularly in Odisha, that they would hike the minimum support price of paddy and implement Swaminathan Commission report. We have been demanding to raise the MSP of paddy to Rs 2,930 per quintal but they fixed it at Rs 1,750.”
Acharya further said that the Odisha Assembly passed a unanimous resolution requesting the Centre to raise the MSP to Rs 2,930 and an all-party delegation wanted to meet the Prime Minster and submit a memorandum on behalf of the farmers of Odisha.
“Ironically, the PM didn’t have five minutes to hear the plight of farmers of Odisha. The BJD has been agitating on this issue for many years. As they didn’t lend ear to our voice, we have decided to protest at the national capital,” Acharya added.