BARGARH: The suicide by Brunda Sahu, a farmer of Kalapani village, has taken political colour with the Opposition leaders making a beeline for the village and expressing their condolences to the bereaved family. While State BJP president Basanta Panda called on the family members of Brunda in the village along with Brajrajnagar MLA Radharani Panda, the Congress launched a dharna outside the District Collectorate.
A delegation of Odisha Naba Nirman Krushak Sangha, led by Akshaya Kumar and Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, also visited the village and met the family of Brunda.Basanta Panda assured the family that the BJP would take care of education of Brunda’s son Rajesh and facilitate nursing training to his daughter Priti. He demanded that the State Government should provide employment to Rajesh and added that the issue of Brunda’s suicide will be taken up in the Assembly.
On the other hand, the District Congress, led by its president Ananata Sayan Padhi and former MLAs from the district said that they would continue their sit-in dharna outside the District Collectorate over their six-point charter of demands till November 7. Their demands include compensation of `20 lakh to the family of deceased farmers, hike in Minimum Support Price of paddy to `3,000, waiving of farm loans, free electricity for lift irrigation points, input subsidy to share croppers and bonus of ` 300 per quintal of paddy to farmers. Naba Nirman Krushak Sangha convenor Soumya Ranjan Patnaik said the problems of the farmers have been ignored for long and that they are not getting their dues.
However, farmer leader Lingraj said that the death of Brunda Sahu was due to complacency of the district administration. Had the administration swung into action when it received first complaint of pest attack, things would have been different. They sat on complaints and none made field visit to get a feel of the ground reality. Had the farmers been sensitised, the crop could have been saved, he said. Lingraj said the State Government is trying to cover up its failure by putting the blame on pesticide dealers. He said that by accusing the BJD, the BJP cannot absolve itself from the plight of the farmers. a team of doctors checked the health condition of Brunda’s widow Subhasini, who is in a state of shock. Her condition is reported to be stable.