Odisha Assembly witnessed a stormy debate on paddy procurement irregularities as Congress legislators accused the government of collusion with millers, while BJP defended its record and BJD staged protests.
Congress MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati alleged that farmers are forced to sell paddy at throwaway prices due to rising deductions and poor procurement facilities. He claimed the government paints a rosy picture but ignores ground realities, with millers dictating terms and farmers left frustrated.
BJP legislators countered the charges, asserting that the government fulfilled most of its election promises and ensured procurement at Rs 3,100 per quintal. BJP MLA Ashwini Sarangi said farmers are happy under the “Modi guarantee” and accused Congress and BJD of misleading cultivators. He cited NCRB data showing farmer suicides during earlier regimes, arguing that opposition parties lack credibility.
Congress MLA Ashok Das highlighted that farmers producing paddy on five acres received tokens for only two acres, leaving them helpless in mandis. He alleged that millers refuse to lift paddy, worsening farmer distress.
Food Supplies Minister Krushna Chandra Patra rejected opposition claims, calling them attempts to mislead farmers. He assured that all registered farmers’ paddy would be procured by March 31 and no token would lapse. He reported that in the 2024‑25 kharif season, the government purchased 92.64 lakh metric tonnes of paddy from 19.73 lakh farmers, disbursing Rs 28,619 crore. He added that 19.68 lakh farmers have registered for the current season, with procurement already crossing 64 lakh metric tonnes.
The debate saw noisy protests, walkouts, and sharp exchanges, reflecting the political heat around farmer welfare and procurement management in Odisha.
