Bhubaneswar: Social activist Anna Hazare on Wednesday targeted both the state and the Centre for ignoring the demands of farmers and alleged that both the governments were blind to the cause of farmers.
Arriving here on a three-day visit to the state on Wednesday, Hazare said: "Farmers should be given the right price for their produce. They should be accorded prestige and pension. They are dedicating their entire life for the cause of the society and it's the responsibility of the government to ensure pension for them." He said: "Farmers, who have crossed the age of 60 and do not have any of their family member in service, should be given pension."
Expressing concern over farmer suicides in the state and other parts of the country, Hazare said: "In the past 22 years, as many as 12 lakh farmers have committed suicide. However, both the state and the central governments remain blind to their problems. So many people have died. But, they are unable to see. When the farmers of the country will unite, their voice will certainly be heard by both the governments. At this point, all the people should unit and force the government to act."
Hazare also made it clear that he would again stage a demonstration in New Delhi in February in support of the demand for appointment of Lok Pal. "We will also raise the issue of farmers there in Delhi," he said.
Soon after he reached Bhubaneswar, the activists of the Navnirman Samiti took him in a procession from the airport to the state guest house. He was received by senior workers of Navnirman Samiti Akshya Kumar, Soumya Ranjan Patnaik and Rabi Das.
Hazare will address a state-level farmers' conclave in Jagatsinghpur on Thursday. The main issues of the conclave are price, prestige and pension for farmers.