Odisha Assembly was in turmoil over paddy procurement

Bhubaneswar:25/2/20: The Odisha Assembly was in turmoil over paddy procurement on Tuesday with BJP alleging the government was buying paddy from agents instead of farmers.

The House proceedings came to a halt as both the opposition Congress and the BJP rushed to the well shouted slogans and showing placards. Speaker S N Patro adjourned the House twice on the day.

The House was adjourned first at 10:30 am till 11:30 am and again from 11:32 am till 12:50 pm. Speaker’s repeated appeal to the Opposition members to return to their seat fell in deaf ears.

Normalcy returned after the Speaker announced in the House that paddy procurement will continue till March 31. He said token for paddy procurement will be issued to farmers much before the deadline.

Leader of Opposition PK Nayak said mismanagement in paddy procurement this time was due to the introduction of the token system.

The Congress Legislature Party Leader Narasingha Mishra said farmers are being exploited as the government joined hands with the millers. He expressed his concern over the non-procurement of paddy from the farmers.

While BJP MLA Bishnu Sethi said the objective of the token system has failed, Tara Prasad Bahinipati (Congress) demanded to raise the limit for paddy procurement in non-irrigated areas.