BJP protests paddy token system, rally on January 21 in Odisha

By Express News Service
BHUBANESWAR: The BJP on Saturday introduced a mega rally at Sambalpur on January 21 to protest irregularities in paddy procurement and demand withdrawal of the token system.

Leader of Opposition Pradipta Naik made this announcement after a gathering with BJP MLAs, district unit presidents and get together’s Kishan Morcha leaders from western Odisha. 

“We demand immediate withdrawal of the online token system as this is root cause of all problems. The common complaint of the farmers is token issued to them lapsed as mandis (paddy procurement centres) were not lifting their paddy on due date,” Naik stated.

Inordinate delay in procurement has led to misery sale. Though procurement of paddy beneath MSP is against the law, the district administrations usually are not taking motion towards the unscrupulous merchants. It appears that the administration is hand in glove with millers and personal merchants, he stated.

“The government had promised that criminal cases will be filed if paddy is procured below the MSP at any place. However, no such action have been taken anywhere so far,” Naik stated. Alleging rampant corruption at mandi stage, Naik stated all farmers bringing their produce on the market are paid lower than the precise value.

Each farmer has to forgo the fee for at the least 4-5 kg per bag of paddy which is named ‘Katni Chatni’ in native language. Farmers are unable to promote their whole produce as a consequence of low yield targets mounted by the federal government for irrigated and non-irrigated land that are within the order of 19 quintal and 13 quintal per acre, he added.

“What the farmers will do with their surplus paddy and whom to sell. There is an urgent need to revisit the foodgrain policy under the decentralised procurement,” Naik stated. It is the Centre which is footing the invoice for foodgrains procured below MSP that comes to almost Rs 18,000 crore. 

The State has no proper to deprive farmers of promoting their produce, he added. Naik stated MLAs, MPs and farmers from 5 parliamentary constituencies will take part within the protest rally close to RDC workplace, Sambalpur to voice their calls for.