BHUBANESWAR: With farmers still committing suicide over crop loss, national BJP general secretary in-charge of Odisha Arun Singh on Saturday said the ruling BJD has no moral right to continue in the Government as it has failed to come to the rescue of the distressed farmers.“Farmers are taking extreme steps as they have no faith in this Government. Farmers and agriculture have been victims of Government apathy in the last 17 years. The anti-farmers’ policy of the State Government over the years has ruined farm sector and farming community,” Singh told a media conference here.
Instead of building confidence among the farmers, some of the Ministers of Naveen Patnaik Government are making disparaging remarks over Brunda Sahu’s suicide which is unfortunate, he said.
Without taking names, Singh said Agriculture Minister and Labour Minister made a mockery of Sahu’s suicide. Such irresponsible ministers should be sacked. “The Chief Minister by extending support to such errant ministers has admitted his Government’s failure. He has no moral right to continue in the office as his Government is solely responsible for the current crisis in agriculture sector,” Singh said.
While the neighbouring Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh governments are providing bonus over and above the minimum support price on paddy and interest-free loan to farmers respectively, the ruling BJD has attempted to cover up its failure by shifting the blame to the Centre.Though the Centre has been providing huge assistance under different schemes, the State Government has not been able to utilise the funds in time or Odisha Government is yet to come to the rescue of the farmers who are in distress,” Singh said.
Singh said the party has convened a meeting of district presidents and other functionaries on Sunday to discuss the farmers’ issue and chalk out next course of action. “We will try our best to wake the State Government from its slumber. If we fail, we will take recourse to agitation to fight for the rights of the farmers,” he said.Reacting sharply to Singh’s statements, Agriculture Minister Damodar Rout said agriculture is a state subject and it is the constitutional responsibility of the State Government to look after the farmers interest. “But I can’t help if some central ministers and leaders give vague statements after visiting some villages in the state. They are creating unfavourable atmosphere in the State politics which is unfortunate in a democratic set up,” Rout said.