Bhubaneswar, April 26: The absence of BJP members at a meeting of an Assembly committee to discuss increase in support price for paddy has drawn flak from both the BJD and the Congress.

The BJP, however, asserted that its absence was "not intentional". The committee today decided that a delegation, led by the Speaker, would call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demand that the minimum support price of paddy be increased to Rs 2,930 per quintal. Two legislators from BJP - its legislature party leader K.V. Singh Deo and Bibhuti Bhushan Harichandan - are part of the 17-member all-party panel.

State food supplies and consumer welfare minister Sanjay Das Burma said: "Though the BJP had supported the unanimous demand for hike in minimum support price of the paddy, its two committee members were surprisingly absent. It seems the BJP has betrayed the farmers."

However, BJP legislator Pradip Purohit said the BJP was committed to the cause of farmers. "Rather, the ruling BJD has betrayed the farmers," he said.

Purohit said Singh Deo had asked him to represent him at the meeting. "But, I was told that I cannot attend the meeting as I am not a member of the panel."

Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra, who had moved a motion seeking hike in support price during the budget session, said that BJP had in its 2014 election manifesto promised to raise the minimum support price of paddy one and half times. "Hence, the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre is duty-bound to fulfil its promise," he said.

Agriculture minister Pradeep Maharathy said the cost of paddy cultivation comes around Rs 2,344 per quintal, while the selling price is Rs 1,470 per quintal.

Speaker Niranjan Pujari said a memorandum was being drafted to be presented to the Prime Minister.