Bhubaneswar, Nov. 16: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik today reprimanded BJD's women wing president Pramila Mallick for her comments on farmer suicides.

Naveen pulled her up for making an "irresponsible statement" on the issue, official sources said.

Mallick courted controversy for her off-the-cuff remarks on the cases of alleged farmer suicides in the state. Yesterday, while attacking the Opposition and the media on the issue, Mallick had said the Opposition should distribute amar ladu (sweets of immortality) to the farmers.

However, she told The Telegraph : "I explained it to the chief minister how the Opposition is trying to make issue of the alleged farmer suicide cases. I had not made any derogatory statements about the farmers' community."

The Congress and the BJP today targeted Mallick on the issue. Pradesh Congress's women wing members burnt an effigy of Mallick and demanded her retirement from politics.

Pradesh Congress Committee president Prasad Harichandan said: "Mallick's statement has deeply hurt the sentiments of the farmers' community. The ministers are making a mockery of farmers."

BJP vice-president Surama Padhi said: "The party strongly condemns Mallick's statement. She should apologise to the people as well to the farmers." They also reacted sharply to the BJD's proposed farmer rally at Sohela in Bargarh scheduled on November 19.

"The BJD is going to spend Rs 5 crore for the rally. Had it distributed the money among farmers, it could have saved 100 lives. Every farmer family would have got Rs 5 lakh each," said BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra.

He said: "While Karnataka and Chhattisgarh would receive drought assistance from the Centre after submitting relevant information and exhaustive reports, the state government here has gone into deep slumber. It has not made any efforts in this regard, while at the same time, the party has done everything to protect itself."

Suicide attempt

A 45-year-old farmer, Sushil Patra of Khapsipali under Dhankauda Block of Sambalpur district, today allegedly attempted suicide by consuming pesticide. He is admitted at Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Burla. Sources said: "Sushil had grown paddy over four acres and taken a loan of Rs 60,000 for the cultivation. However, scanty rainfall and pests damaged the crop."

His family members said Sushil had been under mental trauma due to crop loss and loan burden.

In yet another development, the police today arrested a 44-year-old moneylender from Pattamundai township in Kendrapara district in the wake of a series of farmer suicide cases. The cops launched a drive against unauthorised moneylenders and arrested Sanjeev Kar for not possessing a licence to lend and collect money.#The police recovered a promissory note and blank-signed cheques obtained from customers, who had borrowed money from him.

The accused used to collect 5 per cent interest rate every month from the borrowers, the police said.

Addition reporting by Subrat Mohanty