Bhubaneswar, Dec. 27: Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik today announced a bonus of Rs 100 per quintal of paddy over and above the minimum support price.
The announcement met with severe criticism from the Congress and the BJP on the ground that such a “populistic” move violated the model code of conduct which is in vogue because of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation elections.
Making this announcement at a public meeting at Haldipalli village of Bargarh district today, Naveen said the special assistance would be given to the farmers during the current kharif season.
He said the expenditure on the payment of bonus would be totally borne by the Odisha government.
He also announced that the two per cent market fee and two per cent central sales tax on movement of paddy would be waived.
“The announcement has violated the model code of conduct. But, if the government is really interested in the farmers, it should make it Rs 300 per quintal which we had demanded much earlier,” said senior Congress leader Narasingha Mishra.
BJP leader Biswa Bhusan Harichandan, who also criticised the chief minister for violating the model code of conduct, said the announcement would make little difference for the farmers as the government agencies were not purchasing paddy from them, forcing distress sale at throw away prices.
Incidentally, the Odisha government had avoided official media briefing on the decisions of the state cabinet, which met last evening, on the plea that the model code of conduct is in force.
Though there was no official agenda on the bonus for paddy, the cabinet discussed the proposal at the meeting impromptu and gave its nod. However, the ministers and officials were asked not to divulge the cabinet decision.
Payment of bonus for paddy had been the demand of the Opposition parties and farmers’ organisations for the last few months.
The Congress and the BJP had raised the demand in the Assembly during the previous sessions. Interestingly, the government had turned down the demand. Even BJD legislators had earlier met the chief minister to press for the demand.
Navnirman Krushak Sangathan, a farmers’ association which was on a fast for the past 16 days demanding Rs 500 bonus for a quintal of paddy, had blocked the car of the chief minister last Tuesday to put pressure on the government to fulfil their demand.
Police today suspended an assistant sub-inspector of Capital police station and recommended departmental action against the inspector in charge of Traffic police station in connection with the incident.
“An inquiry revealed that the assistant sub-inspector, who was in charge of keeping watch on the group on hunger strike at Lower PMG, failed in his duty.
The inspector in charge of Traffic police station, who was supposed to see the route lining arrangement of the chief minister carcade, was also found to be negligent in duty,” said police commissioner R.P. Sharma.
The police had arrested 26 members of the organisation and registered cases against them even under section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code.
