Farmers’ issue stalled Odisha Assembly proceedings

Highlights

• Congress created ruckus raising issues of farmers’ suicide and distress sale of vegetables
• Speaker adjourned the House till 3 pm

Bhubaneswar: Farmers’ issue disrupted the business of the Odisha Assembly for the second consecutive day on Wednesday.

When the House met at 11.30 am after the first adjournment at 10.38 am, Opposition Congress created a ruckus in the House by raising the farmers’ issue again.

Demanding exgratia for the kin of the farmers, who committed suicide following crop loss, they shouted slogans. Unable to run the House further, Speaker Niranjan Pujari adjourned it till 3 pm.

Earlier in the day, both Congress and BJP legislators had demanded a reply from Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy over the distress sale of tomato, cabbage, and other winter vegetables.

Demanding compensation to the farmers who have suffered loss due to the distress sale, they had created uproar in the House forcing the Speaker to adjourn it after eight minutes till 11.30 am.

During a discussion on the issue of farmers in zero hour, leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra alleged that the apathetic and lackadaisical attitude of the state government is responsible for the death of farmers and distress sale of vegetables.

Speaking of the death of a farmer in Bargarh district, he said, “Though both the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister had visited Bargarh district in 2016 when the farmer death cases were reported, nothing special was made for the farmers. Again similar cases have started occurring in 2017. Despite the farmer deaths, the state government is a silent spectator.”

The House was stalled over the farmers’ issue on Tuesday.