Centre meddling in state subjects: Agri minister

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Bhubaneswar: Terming the Union Agriculture Minister’s statement on Orissa government’s steps on tackling pests as “unconstitutional,” state Agriculture Minister Damodar Rout Saturday said the Centre has been meddling in state subjects unnecessarily.
Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh had stated Thursday that Orissa government had not implemented the advisory of the Cuttack-based Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI) to control pests devouring paddy crop. The minister also said a Central team would visit Orissa Sunday.
“As per Constitution, agriculture is a state subject. The statement coming from a Union farm minister, ironically, is not based on facts. It is unconstitutional and forceful interference in the state’s affairs. They should have contacted me or discussed with me the issue before unnessarily making such comments,” Rout told reporters at the Secretariat here.
“During a natural calamity, the Centre refrains from sending teams to assess the damage. But this time it is sending one unilaterally without consulting the state or taking the concerned state into confidence. This is breach of the spirit of federalism,” the Cabinet Minister asserted, adding, “At least Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who hails from Orissa, should have discussed the issue with me prior to taking such a decision.”
“Though pest attacks have been reported from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Chhattissgarh, there was no political interference. This shows the BJP leaders and Union ministers were making such statements only to mislead the people and gain political mileage out of the situation. People of Orissa will decide about it,” the minister stated.
Rout also said the state government is aware of the issues and problems the farmers have been facing and has taken appropriate measures to resolve their issues and problems.
Keeping rainfall predictions in mind, the Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) has recently issued an advisory to farmers in the state, which is being circulated to district collectors and agriculture officials for implementation, he said.
Meanwhile, reacting to Rout’s statement, BJP spokesperson Sajjan Sharma said, “BJP does not need to learn about the Constitution from the agriculture minister, who has miserably failed to execute his constitutional responsibility when the farmers in the state were in dire straits.”