Two years after shedding energy in Odisha, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has launched a sequence of state-wide agitations in opposition to the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering authorities over the plight of farmers, who performed a key position within the occasion’s rise to energy within the state.
BJD-led protests have been ongoing in Odisha, a largely agricultural state the place over 80% of the inhabitants makes a residing from agriculture, since February 2 and are scheduled to culminate in a large rally in Bhubaneswar on February 24.
On Monday, BJD president and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wrote to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi alleging widespread harassment of farmers in mandis and failure to honor election guarantees associated to paddy procurement.
“Through the 2024 elections, as per level 2 of your occasion’s manifesto, you made solemn guarantees to farmers concerning strengthening the minimal assist worth (MSP) and ending katni chutni (unlawful deductions throughout procurement). However the actuality throughout the mandi tells a narrative of betrayal,” Patnaik wrote.
Whereas in opposition, the BJP aggressively focused the Patnaik authorities over the plight of farmers and garnered assist amongst farmers with its pledge to set the MSP for paddy at Rs 3,100 per quintal (Rs 800 greater than the Centre’s fastened worth). Together with money help to ladies underneath the Subhadra scheme, the promise of bonuses to farmers was broadly seen as a key ingredient of the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering’s victory.
Instantly after taking workplace, the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering authorities authorized each plans. For the 2024-25 kharif season, the Heart has fastened MSP at Rs 2,300 per quintal and states have introduced a further subsidy of Rs 800.
Nevertheless, Patnaik accused the federal government of backtracking by capping the subsidy at 150 quintals per farmer. “This cover penalizes productive farmers and is inconsistent with the Sankalpa Patra (Manifesto), which doesn’t specify any such restrict,” he mentioned.
The BJD additionally alleged rampant unlawful deductions in mandis, harassment of farmers and delays in procurement main to fireside gross sales.
BJD chief Sanjay Das Burma alleged that the procurement was halted halfway as a result of “huge mismanagement”. “Of Kharif state’s procurement goal of 73 million tonnes, solely 41.96 million tonnes, or 57%, has been achieved thus far. Out of 19.66 million registered farmers, solely 9.65 million tonnes, or 49%, have been in a position to promote paddy,” he mentioned.
Nevertheless, the state Meals Provides and Shopper Welfare Division disputed this determine, saying 1.138 million farmers have offered 49.18 million tonnes of paddy thus far. “The kharif procurement will proceed till March, so the goal can be achieved with out problem,” mentioned an official.
Below the procurement coverage for 2025-26, the federal government has set a goal to obtain 9.3 million tonnes of paddy, of which 7.3 million tonnes can be produced throughout the Kharif season and a couple of million tonnes throughout the Rabi season.
The BJD’s agitation is a part of its try to revive itself in time for the native physique polls scheduled to be held in January-February subsequent yr. “We’ll attain out to the individuals and expose the federal government’s failures as this situation considerations greater than 80 per cent of the inhabitants, particularly rural areas,” the BJD chief mentioned.
The occasion launched its agitation from the western state of Odisha, an agriculturally wealthy area that can be thought-about a stronghold of the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering.
What are farmer teams saying?
Farmers’ organizations additionally took to the streets. The Navnirman Krushak Sangathan (NKS) on January 28 noticed a state-wide bandh in protest in opposition to alleged mismanagement within the procurement system.
Lingaraj, a farmer chief from western Odisha, mentioned the delay in issuing tokens to farmers had compelled many into hearth gross sales. “The federal government appears extra centered on lowering the variety of farmers eligible for procurement than on streamlining the system,” he mentioned, noting that unlawful deductions proceed as a result of management of flour millers.
Bharatiya Janata Social gathering state president Manmohan Samar denied the allegations and mentioned the federal government had taken steps to streamline procurement. “The BJD, which couldn’t even give Rs 100 per quintal as bonus throughout its rule, can’t settle for our authorities giving Rs 800 per quintal as enter subsidy. Opposition events try to create chaos,” he mentioned.
