The State Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution that the Standing Committee on Paddy MSP led by Speaker Pradeep Kumar Amat would visit President Ram Nath Kovind and urge him to direct the Union Government to hike minimum support price of paddy to Rs 2,930 at the earliest.
The resolution was passed through a voice vote amid levelling of charges and counter charges among the three political parties, the BJD, the Congress and the BJP. A total of 15 Members, including Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Minister Dr Damodar Rout, Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra and BJP Legislature Party Leader KV Singh Deo, participated in the discussion which lasted for about five hours.
After the House was adjourned twice till 12.02 pm over farmer issues raised by the BJP members, Government Chief Whip Amar Prasad Satpathy brought a motion for holding discussions on steps taken by the Standing Committee to present its paddy MSP hike demand before the Prime Minister and passing of a resolution for further action.
“The Speaker has written letters seeking time to meet PM for placing MSP price hike demand four times since the unanimous resolution passed in an earlier session. But the PMO has not sent last of which was sent on November 18, 2017. I request the House to pass another resolution for next course of action,” said Satpathy while presenting the Motion.
Keeping his view, the Leader of Opposition slammed the both the Union Government and State Government for the problems now being faced by farmers in Odisha.
“The Prime Minister has disregarded this august House and the People of Odisha for not giving time to meet the Standing Committee. It is disappointing and shameful,” said Mishra.
He too slammed the State Government saying that it has so far sent letters only and played no role in protection of drought and pest-hit farmers.
He suggested that the House panel meet the President and seek his intervention into the matter.
Besides, he demanded that all farm loans be waived and bonus of Rs 500 be given over and above the MSP to farmers at the earliest.
However, Singh Deo said his party would not support the resolution if passed to seek the President’s intervention. He suggested that the House Panel should write again to meet the PM.
Singh Deo too slammed the State Government for not giving bonus of Rs 100 over the MSP, though declared by the CM at Bargarh meeting. He too demanded that the State Government waive all farm loans as BJP ruled States do.
Minister Rout termed PMO’s non-response to the House panel’s letters as very disgraceful and shameful.