**Bhubaneswar: ** As resolved unanimously in the Odisha Assembly during its Budget Session, the House Committee will soon submit a memorandum in demand for fixing minimum support price (MSP) of paddy per quintal at Rs 2,930 for the farmers of the State.
A meeting in this respect was held here under the chairmanship of Speaker Niranjan Pujari and attended by Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy and Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra.
However, BJP legislature party leader K.V. Singhdeo was conspicuous by his absence at the significant meeting although the resolution was unanimously passed in the Assembly.
Briefing media, Speaker Niranjan Pujari said, “It was decided in today’s meeting that we’ll draft the memorandum and hand it over to the hon’ble Prime Minister regarding the minimum support price (MSP). MSP is generally declared in the month of June or July by the Central Government. Before that we’ll move.”
Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra said, “Election manifesto is not a worthless paper. It has been told by the Chief Justice of Suprem Court. As the BJP had assured the famers of the country in their election manifesto that they would give one-and-half more price than the production cost, the Central Government is bound down to keep the promise now.”
Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy said, “Paddy’s now MSP is Rs 1470. As per the resolution put forth by Government Chief Whip in the Assembly, it was passed unanimously to make MSP Rs 2,930 instead of Rs 1,470. Today’s was the first meeting of the House panel meant for the purpose presided by the Speaker. It was decided that the Speaker should write a letter to the Prime Minister for time table. Secondly it was decided that in 7-8 days, Agriculture Department supported by the Civil Supplies Department will state a justification why the rate to be enhanced. A meeting will be held for that.”
Talking to OMMCOM NEWS over phone, Odisha BJP vice-president Sameer Mohanty said, “Our legislature party leader K.V. Singhdeo has already supported it when the issue was raised in the Assembly. His absence might be due to some unavoidable circumstances. But BJP supports the move.”
