By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR:The BJP has always tried to ensure that paddy is not sold to the needy and that farmers get their fair price. Odisha is an agricultural state dependent on agriculture. Odisha was once at number 19 in paddy production, but today it is at number 2. When the then Prime Minister took oath in 2014, paddy was priced at Rs 1310 per quintal, but today after the formation of the BJP’s double engine government in Odisha, paddy is being purchased at Rs 3100 per quintal. Before 2024, i.e. during the previous government, 58 lakh metric tonnes of paddy was purchased in the financial year 2023-24 and paddy worth Rs 13 thousand crore was purchased at that time.
After the BJP government came to power in Odisha, in the financial year 2024-25, around 92 lakh metric tonnes of paddy worth Rs 27 thousand crore was purchased from 16 lakh 60 thousand farmers, including Kharif and Rabi crops. Apart from this, an annual incentive of Rs 10,000 is being provided under PM Kisan and CM Kisan Yojana to double the income of farmers. After the BJP government came to power in Odisha, the price of paddy has almost doubled. This is the commitment of the BJP government towards the farmer brothers and sisters. In such a situation, both the opposition BJD and Congress parties are trying to create confusion among the people by misleading them about the price of paddy, said BJP State President Shri Manmohan Samal.
Mr. Samal said that in most districts of the state, the purchase of paddy has crossed 90 to 95 percent and the purchase of paddy is still ongoing. Paddy has been purchased in the first, second, and third phases under the token system. If necessary, the fourth phase of tokens will be provided. As long as the farmers have paddy, the purchase of paddy will continue. This is the commitment of the BJP government to the farmers of Odisha. There will be no compromise on this.
The opposition BJD and Congress leaders are not able to digest this. They are trying to do politics in this regard too. Last year too, they created conflict among the people over paddy purchase and failed. This year too, the opposition is making similar attempts. But this time too, they will not succeed, said Mr. Samal.
Complete transparency has been adopted in the grain procurement system. In the BJP government, starting from the popular Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, ministers, MLAs and other senior BJP leaders are visiting the markets and monitoring the situation. The BJP government is making efforts to ensure that there are no irregularities in the grain procurement by discussing and criticizing this system. Today, due to the good system in grain procurement, Odisha has become the second state out of 19 in the country. According to Agrikulchar Today magazine, this year Odisha has become the best state in grain procurement. Odisha has also been awarded for this.
Those who were trying to create confusion in the grain procurement system with some middlemen and dishonest traders are upset today. Politics or confusion should not be created on this sensitive issue. Because if the farmers prosper, Odisha will prosper. If the per capita income increases, Odisha will prosper. Farmers have a major role to play in a developed India.
This will lead to the economic development of the farmers. But those who are trying to confuse and poison the pot of nectar will not be forgiven by the people of Odisha. The farmers have understood this very well. There is no conflict in their minds. The Bharatiya Janata Party does what it says. The promise made in the resolution has been fulfilled. The resolution announced to pay Rs 3100 per quintal has been fulfilled. Some people are trying to create conflict in this too. In this regard, the opposition parties should first read the BJP’s resolution carefully and respond, said Shri Samal.
Today, money is being sent to farmers’ accounts within 24 to 48 hours through DBT in the state. It is inappropriate to break the morale of the farmers who have taken the decision to grow the economy of Odisha. In this regard, the opposition Congress and BJD parties should not do negative politics but positive politics.
Do not break the morale of the farmers for the sake of politics. If the opposition party has any good suggestions for purchasing paddy, give them to the government. But do not create conflict in the minds of the farmers. The BJP government will not compromise on the purchase of paddy. The government is strong for the interests of the farmers.
The BJP government will take whatever strict steps need to be taken to make this decision a success. The BJP government is taking strict action against those who create trouble in this and will take it further.
The chaos that both BJD and Congress members are creating by closing the assembly without discussing this issue is very unfortunate and shameful. The people’s money and time are being wasted by the opposition by presenting wrong information in the assembly. Let us not create unnecessary confusion over an issue that has no basis. The BJP government is ready to answer all questions when it is discussed in the Assembly, said State President Shri Samal.
State Vice President Shri Shivaji Mohanty, Shri Ashok Mishra, State General Secretary Shri Biranchi Narayan Tripathi, State Kisan Morcha President Shri Subhransu Mohan Padhi were prominently present at this press conference.
