Bhubaneswar, February 9: BJD president and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Naveen Patnaik on Monday lashed out at Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi for reportedly reneging on its electoral promises, especially enhanced MSP for farmers and stopping of Katni-Chhatni and “systematic exploitation of Annadatta.”
In a letter to the CM, Patnaik said the farmer of Odisha does not seek charity but the fair price they were promised and the dignity they deserve.
“I am writing to you with a heavy heart to bring to your immediate attention the acute distress and systemic exploitation being faced by the "Annadata" of our state. Agriculture is the lifeline of Odisha, yet the current Kharif procurement season has become a period of profound struggle for our farmers due to administrative apathy and the blatant violation of promises made to the people,” said Patnaik.
During the 2024 elections, Patnaik said, “As per Point No.2 of your Party's manifesto, you made solemn commitments to the farming community regarding enhanced MSP and stopping of Katni-Chhatni. However, the ground reality across Mandis tells a story of betrayal.”
“Despite repeated assurances of a "hassle-free" procurement, farmers are being subjected to arbitrary deductions of 5 kg to 7 kg per quintal under the guise of moisture content or poor quality. In many districts, this exploitation is happening in broad daylight, often with the alleged collusion of millers and local officials, forcing farmers into a "mutual agreement" that robs them of their hard-earned income,” said Patnaik.
Patnaik questioned, “When can this ‘Katni Chhatni’ be stopped as per your election manifesto? Is it not an example of false promise made by Bharatiya Janata Party during election? When will your Government come forward to fulfil electoral promise? When will the farmer get justice as per your election manifesto?”
Criticising the recent decision on the recent decision to cap the subsidy at a maximum of Rs 150 quintals, Patnaik said, “Your government promised an input subsidy of 1800 per quintal to support all farmers. However, the recent decision to cap this subsidy at a maximum of 150 quintals per farmer is a clear breach of trust. This ceiling penalizes productive farmers and contradicts the "Sankalpa Patra" which did not specify such restrictive limits.”
“Why is the government backtracking on its promise to provide Input Subsidy of 13,100 for the entire produce? It may be mentioned here that the Government of India has enhanced the minimum support price of paddy @ Rs.69/- per quintal. But the farmers of Odisha are not getting the enhanced price. Is it not a betrayal?,” asked Patnaik.
The former CM alleged that thousands of farmers are spending sleepless nights under the open sky, guarding their paddy from dew and theft, as the lifting of stocks remains agonizingly slow.
“The lack of basic facilities, the failure of the token system, and the delay in payment—which was promised within 48 hours through DBT but is taking weeks in many cases—have pushed the farmers to the brink of agitation. Is it not a failure in fulfilment of electoral promises of BJP? It may be mentioned here that payment to farmers through DBT within 48 hours of procurement was promised in Point-2 of BJP election manifesto,” said Patnaik.
Patnaik alleged that the combination of "Katni Chhatni," the 150-quintal cap, and the slow pace of procurement has created a vacuum being exploited by unscrupulous traders and millers.
“Farmers, desperate to clear their debts, are being forced into distress sales far below the Minimum Support Price. The farmer of Odisha does not seek charity; they seek the fair price they were promised and the dignity they deserve,” said Patnaik.
The former CM urged the Chief Minister to deploy special squads to Mandis to stop "Katni Chhatni" and take exemplary action against erring millers and officials, lift the 150-quinta1 ceiling on the input subsidy to cover the total produce of registered farmers and ensure 100% lifting of paddy lying in the open sky within a fixed 72- hour window.
“As per the promises made in the BJP election manifesto, payment to farmers through DBT within 48 hours of procurement should be ensured,” Patnaik said.
“Failure to address these grievances will leave the farming community with no choice but to intensify their protests across the State. I hope your government will rise above rhetoric and fulfill its promises to the farmers of Odisha,” added the former CM.
