The BJP on Sunday attacked the BJD government in Orissa on alleged “distress sale” of paddy and rise in the incidence of farmer suicide in the state.
“The state government has completely neglected the paddy procurement process that has led to distress sale of the produce. Besides, it has failed to supply required quantity of seeds, fertilisers and water to farmers which has worsened the conditions of peasants in the state,” senior BJP leader and former revenue minister Manmohan Samal said.
The BJP leader alleged that paddy procurement by the Orissa state cooperative societies had opened the flood gates of corruption and the officials of the societies were making huge money by just paperwork.
“Previously, the cooperative societies were given only 1.5 per cent of the total procurement target because of its lack of expertise and constraint of infrastructure and manpower. Now, the present government has given the total procurement responsibilities to these bodies, which instead of buying paddy from the farmers, were showing it in the papers only,” the minister said.