BHUBANESWAR: The State BJP will launch a State-wide agitation in a phased manner from December 20 to protest the delay in disbursement of compensation to farmers who have sustained crop loss due to drought, pest attack and unseasonal rains. The party has decided to gherao district collectorates of Khurda, Kandhamal and Nuapada on Wednesday.
State BJP president Basanta Panda and national BJP secretary Suresh Pujari will lead the agitation at Nuapada while BJP MLA Pradip Purohit will take the lead at Khurda. State BJP general secretary Bhrugu Baxipatra will be in charge of Kandhamal agitation. Ealier, Panda had announced that his party will protest the abrupt end of winter session of the Assembly 13 days ahead of schedule on December 14 by taking up the issue to the people.
With increasing number of farmers committing suicide over crop loss and loan burden, the BJP will highlight the failure of State Government in mitigating their plights. The BJP will also press the State Government to keep its promise of paying a bonus of `100 per quintal of paddy as announced by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at a farmers’ rally in Sohela of Bargarh district in 2015, said State BJP vice-president Samir Mohanty.