The Odisha Legislative Assembly witnessed intense debates and disruptions on Tuesday over alleged irregularities in paddy procurement, with opposition parties Congress and BJD launching sharp attacks on the ruling BJP government.
Congress accused millers and the government of being in a “nexus,” while the BJP defended its actions by citing fulfilled election promises. The session saw walkouts, sloganeering, and heated exchanges, highlighting farmers’ grievances amid claims of exploitation and mismanagement.
The discussion began with a motion from Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati, who criticised Food Supplies Minister Krushna Chandra Patra for painting a “rosy picture” without addressing ground realities. “The minister’s statement lacks details on how much paddy is lying in mandis and when it will be procured,” Bahinipati said. He pointed out that while the central government increased the MSP by Rs 69, the state was not passing it on to farmers. “The government claims to buy paddy at Rs 3,100 per quintal, but farmers are selling at Rs 1,400. There’s a nexus between millers and the government,” he alleged, adding that the “double-engine” government was failing to lift rice stocks. Bahinipati further claimed that deductions (katni-chhatni) had increased under BJP compared to the previous BJD regime, and farmers were not receiving payments for gunny bags or transport. “The BJP government is worse than BJD,” he asserted, warning that farmers were on the verge of suicide due to lack of facilities in mandis.
Echoing similar sentiments, Congress MLA Ashok Das highlighted how farmers producing on 5 acres were only getting tokens for 2 acres, leaving them distressed as millers refused to lift their paddy. Congress members participated in the debate, but BJD MLAs staged protests in the well of the House. BJD’s Deputy Leader Pratap Deb raised a point of order, accusing the Speaker of running the House amid chaos and alleging a “collusion” between the government and Congress to stifle discussions. Labelling the government as insensitive to farmers’ issues, BJD members walked out in protest.
Responding to the criticisms, BJP MLA Ashwini Sarangi showcased the party’s election manifesto, emphasising that the government was honouring its promise to procure paddy at Rs 3,100 per quintal. “We have fulfilled our commitments underthe Modi Guarantee. Farmers are happy selling at this rate—it’s Mohan Majhi’s guarantee, not Rahul or Naveen’s,” she said, taking a dig at the opposition. Sarangi noted that MSP was only Rs 1,310 under the Congress-led central government, now more than doubled. She accused BJD and Congress of being anti-farmer, citing NCRB data showing 1,805 farmer suicides between 2005 and 2014 under previous regimes. “Opposition is spreading misinformation, but farmers stand with BJP,” she added. Sarangi also praised Congress for finally joining the discussion after allegedly disrupting the House alongside BJD “like fake cat and mouse fights.”
Other BJP MLAs, including Nihar Mahananda and Purnachandra Sethi, criticised BJD’s protests as insincere, claiming they were using party workers in farmer rallies without genuine concern. The session was marred by disruptions from the start, with both opposition parties causing uproar during question hour and zero hour, leading the Speaker to adjourn the House from 10:38 AM to 11:30 AM. In the afternoon, as Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi replied to the budget discussion, Congress MLAs, led by Rama Chandra Kadam, staged a walkout and sat on dharna near the Gandhi statue in the assembly premises, chanting against deductions.
In his detailed response, Minister Patra refuted the opposition’s allegations as an “unsuccessful attempt to mislead farmers.” He assured that no farmer’s token would lapse and all registered farmers’ paddy would be procured by March 31. “We are committed to farmers; no one will be disappointed,” he stated emphatically. Patra highlighted achievements, noting that in the 2024-25 Kharif season, a record 92.64 lakh metric tonnes of paddy were procured from 19.73 lakh farmers, with Rs 28,619 crore paid. For 2025-26, 19.68 lakh farmers have registered—a 12% increase—and about 64 lakh metric tonnes have already been bought, with Rs 18,586 crore disbursed. He blamed the previous BJD government for inadequate infrastructure, with only 1,400 mills available against needs, and said the current regime was strengthening mandi facilities while eliminating 2.5 lakh fake ration cards.
The debate underscores ongoing tensions over agricultural policies in Odisha, with farmers’ welfare at the centre of political battles ahead of further sessions.
