The Naveen Patnaik Government seems to be going through a rough patch due to the spate of farmers’ suicides in different drought affected regions of Odisha since September this year.
Opposition parties and farmers’ organisations on Thursday accused the ruling Biju Janata Dal of making a mockery of the farmers’ suicides by organising a farmers’ rally in Bargarh district in western Odisha.
Even though Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced several new schemes for the distressed farmers while addressing his party’s rally, Odisha Pradesh Committee president Prasad Harichandan blamed the BJD for making mockery of the distressed farmers by organising the rally.
It’s unfortunate that the Chief Minister and his party colleagues are busy organising party rallies instead of visiting the drought-hit areas. Mr. Patnaik has also not thought it right to visit the house of any of the farmers who committed suicide due to crop loss and loan burden, Mr. Harichandan said.
The leaders of BJP who sat on a day-long-fast outside the Governor’s House in Bhubaneswar criticised Mr. Patnaik for not uttering a word of sympathy at the rally towards the families of the 100-odd farmers who committed suicide due to crop loss and loan burden.
The BJP further alleged that the pro-farmer announcements that Mr. Patnaik made at the rally would not be of help to the distressed farmers across the drought-hit regions of the State.
Senior BJP leader Pratap Sarangi termed the BJD’s rally as a gathering of their party workers.
The rally was an attempt to hide the failures of the State government, he added.
Navnirman Krushak Sangathan, an organisation fighting for the cause of farmers, also staged a protest demonstration in the Capital city against the BJD government or its alleged failure to provide any help to the drought affected farmers.
On the other hand, many leaders and workers of various opposition parties were taken into custody at different locations in Bargarh districts hours before the Chief Minister arrived there to address his party’s rally.
The Chief Minister did not travel by road to reach the venue of the rally. He reached the venue by helicopter and flew back to Bhubaneswar from there.
It’s unfortunate that the Chief Minister and his party colleagues are busy organising party rallies instead of visiting the drought-hit areas, says state Congress chief