Odisha's BJD Criticizes BJP Over Delays in Rice Procurement

BJD's Strong Critique of BJP's Governance

Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) launched a fierce critique of the BJP's 'double-engine' government in Odisha on Friday, following remarks from state Supplies Minister KC Patra regarding the Food Corporation of India's (FCI) slow pace in lifting custom-milled rice from the state.

The BJD claimed that Patra's comments confirmed their accusations of 'central negligence' towards Odisha under the BJP administration.

During a Civil Supplies Department event on Thursday, Patra highlighted that the FCI was failing to meet its rice lifting targets.

"Despite my repeated discussions with the central minister and other officials, the FCI shows little interest in collecting rice from Odisha. This is disheartening. I cannot comprehend why the FCI is accommodating to other states but not to us," Patra expressed.

He noted that the state government was constrained and would struggle to initiate new paddy procurement unless the FCI removed the rice from storage facilities.

"I will once again lead a high-level delegation to Delhi to advocate for quicker rice lifting by the FCI," Patra stated, mentioning that the state had previously disbursed Rs 30,000 crore to farmers for paddy procurement.

BJD vice-presidents Sanjay Das Burma and Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak echoed that the minister's statements validated their party's ongoing claims of neglect from the Centre.

"The BJP minister has acknowledged the central negligence regarding the FCI's failure to lift rice as per the established targets," Das Burma remarked during a press briefing.

They pointed out that approximately 18 lakh metric tonnes of rice remained in the state due to the delays.

"If these stocks are not cleared promptly, the state government will be unable to proceed with new paddy procurement. It is regrettable that the pleas of the state BJP minister are ignored by a central agency. The Union minister also seems indifferent to Odisha's issues," they claimed.

The BJD leaders urged Patra to address this matter in the forthcoming Odisha Assembly session and to escalate the issue with the Centre urgently.

They warned that the party would resort to protests if the situation did not improve soon.

In a related development, Opposition Congress leader Santosh Singh Saluja criticized the state government, accusing Patra of deflecting responsibility onto the Centre.

"The 'double-engine' BJP government has failed to address the issues in Odisha. If the FCI does not lift rice, how can paddy procurement occur? The state minister must be held accountable," Saluja stated.