Bhubaneswar, June 23: The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday locked horns over farmers’ issues regarding MSP for paddy and farmers’ loan waiver.
Protesting the Central hike of `80 in minimum support price (MSP) of paddy, the BJD staged a demonstration in front of Raj Bhavan here while the saffron party hit the streets demanding waiver of farmers’ loan. Charging the Centre with ‘anti-farmer’ stance and non-fulfillment of promise on MSP, chief of BJD’s farmer wing Susanta Singh said, “Centre had promised to double the paddy MSP in its manifesto but it hiked it by only `80 per quintal.”
State agriculture minister Damodar Rout dubbed the raise as “laughable”.
A delegation of BJD farmers’ wing led by Damodar Rout met Governor SC Jamir and submitted a memorandum addressed to President Pranab Mukherjee. “As the MSP being fixed by government for paddy does not commensurate with the rising cost of inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, manure, micronutrients, irrigation costs and hiring charges for farm machinery, the farmers of our State are deprived of getting a reasonable price for their produce,” the memorandum said. The BJD said though the state government had been demanding a higher MSP for paddy from the Centre, the Union government unilaterally declared MSP of `1550 per quintal for 2017-18.
The party warned of an indefinite strike if the Union Government did not revise MSP of paddy to `2930 per quintal within seven days.
“We shall be compelled to go for a statewide agitation or even an indefinite strike to safeguard the farmers’ interest,” the party said.
On the other hand, the BJP Krusak Morcha Friday staged a demonstration in front of offices of district collectors demanding farm loan waiver and zero interest loan to farmers. The party questioned as to why the state government was yet to take a decision on farm loan waiver when states like Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra had already announced loan waivers for farmers.
They also alleged that BJD spokespersons always sought to criticise the Centre on loan waiver. The party activists later submitted a memorandum to the Collectors addressing the President.
BJD spokesperson Sameer Das said, “The Prime Minister had promised to double the MSP if BJP comes to power but he has failed to keep his vow. To distract attention of the people of state, BJP has been talking about farm loan waiver.” PNN
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