Odisha: Opposition creates ruckus in assembly for second day in row on paddy issue

BHUBANESWAR: Speaker Surya Narayan Patro on Friday asked cooperation minister Ranendra Pratap Swain to make a statement in the assembly on government steps for smooth procurement of paddy after BJP and Congress members continued to create ruckus in the assembly for second day in a row over the controversial centralised token system.

Stating that he doesn’t have the entire information ready, Swain said, “I will apprise the house on the matter on Monday.”

Though the agitating farmers in Bargarh and Sambalpur withdrew their strike on Thursday following assurances from government interlocutors—rural development minister Susanta Singh and government deputy chief whip Rohit Pujari — the opposition said there is no clarity on government decision.

Leader of opposition Pradipta Kumar Naik said, “it appears from media reports that the farmers of Bargarh and Sambalpur were assured that the government would not insist on tokens for buying paddy from them. There is, however, no word on fates of paddy procurement elsewhere in the state.”

Naik said while the Vidhan Sabha is in session, the government has kept the members in the dark though any government decision should be announced in the assembly itself. “The government should also clarify in what capacity the two assured the farmers when the minister concerned (cooperation minister) is not aware of the complete facts,” he said.

Congress MLA Santosh Singh Saluja (Kantabanji) and BJP MLA Jayanarayan Mishra (Sambalpur) also demanded clarity on government stand. “While the cooperation minister had earlier rejected any suggestion to withdraw token system, the rural development minister and the government deputy chief whip have reportedly assured the farmers to do away with it. The government must clarify,” said Saluja.

Soon after the question hour, the Congress and BJP members stormed into the well seeking a government statement on the issue. The speaker had to adjourn the house thrice, first for half an hour and for 10 minutes twice, before he asked the cooperation minister to make a statement after which the situation normalised.