Bhubaneswar: Opposition BJP and Congress members created ruckus in the Assembly Thursday by raising paddy procurement and Kotia issues. The House adjourned four times as Opposition members demanded ruling from the chair on the twin issues.
Raising the issues during the Zero Hour, Congress Legislature Party leader Narasingha Mishra said, “Farmers want to sell their paddy, but government is refusing to procure. Though the plight of farmers was raised in the House umpteen times, the result is zero. This is most unfortunate.”
Now, the poor farmers have started committing suicide, he alleged.
Terming the steps taken by the government to resolve the border dispute as an eyewash, Mishra said, “While the Andhra Pradesh government is providing old age pension of Rs 2,050 per month in Kotia area, the state government is providing only Rs 500.”
He also raised questions on the petition filed by state government in Supreme Court on the issue. “The Chief Minister should convene an all-party meeting to discuss the matter. We have dispute with all the neighbouring states.
Leaders cutting across the party lines should visit the border areas and discuss with residents regarding their problems,” the Congress leader said.
“The state government should assure that all the paddies from farmers are procured. This is an important subject. Besides, the minister concerned should beg an apology for calling farmers ‘Dalal’,” said Leader of Opposition Pradipta Kumar Naik.
Senior BJP legislator Jayanarayan Mishra also came down on the government for not procuring paddy from farmers resulting in massive unrest across the state.
Deputy Speaker Rajanikant Singh called an all-party meeting to resolve the paddy procurement issue. After the meeting, Singh said he will put forth the concerns of the opposition members before the Speaker.
The adjournment motion on law and order problems moved for Thursday will be discussed Friday, he said.
PNN
