BJD plans to rake up MSP issue in RS

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New Delhi: Concerned over the plight of farmers in the state, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has planned to rake up the issue of Minimum Support Price (MSP) in the Rajya Sabha during the ongoing Monsoon session.
BJD Parliamentary Party leader in Rajya Sabha Prasanna Acharya told Orissa POST, “BJD served a notice to discuss MSP as announced by the government recently and the other problems faced by the farmers of the country. Chairman Venkaiah Naidu admitted the notice and it was fixed for the discussion but due to some uproar, the House adjourned for the day and it could not be taken up. We requested the Chairman to take it up in the coming week which is the last week of this session of Parliament and the Chairman agreed to it and I think Monday has been fixed to discuss the issue.”
The parliamentarian further said that the Central government has announced the MSP for general category paddy, for this Khariff, at Rs 1750 per quintal, Rs 200 more than previous year.
“Being a paddy producing state, we have been demanding since last year to fix the MSP at Rs 2930 per quintal for common grade paddy but the government is refusing it,” he said.
Acharya criticised the BJP-ruled central government for not fulfilling the promises they have made to farmers during elections.
“During the election time, the Prime Minister and BJP had committed to the farmers that they will implement the recommendation of Swaminathan committee but they have not kept their assurances. In the last three years, they didn’t do anything and because this is the election year, they have raised the price by Rs 200. They are boasting that they have done what they had assured but they are hoodwinking the farmers,” Acharya said.
“Our demand is that it should be at least Rs 2930 per quintal. A resolution was passed by the Odisha Assembly and it was an all- party resolution in this regard. An all-party delegation from Odisha assembly wanted to meet the Prime Minister to request him in this regard but unfortunately the PM who has enough time to visit foreign countries didn’t have ten minutes to hear about the plight of the farmers of Odisha,” added Acharya.
Apart from MSP, BJD has also served notice to discuss on Polavaram issue in the Upper House of the Parliament. The party has also put up the demand of special category status to Odisha in the Rajya Sabha.
Speaking on the Motor Vehicle Amendment Bill, Acharya said,” There is an attempt to snatch the power of state governments. We have reservation on certain clauses in the bill. We have moved amendment also. The Minister has said that he will call an all-party meeting and try to work out a consensus, but now the session is going to end and the minister is yet to call the meet.