Congress seeks 15K for farmers

Times of India, Aug 1, 2013
BHAWANIPATNA: To woo farmers ahead of the general elections, the Congress leaders on Wednesday demanded Rs 15,000 compensation for the flood-hit. Stating that the government had failed on all fronts, they accused the ruling BJD of misappropriating 10 kg BPL rice at a farmers' convention here.

The Congress leaders including AICC general secretary B K Hariprashad staged a demonstration outside the collector's office and submitted a 21-point demand to the collector.

Hariprasad said Odisha, under the BJD regime, has made no economic progress. The state's precious mineral resources have instead been looted. He appealed to the voters to defeat the BJD in the next election if they wished for development of the state. "The Centre has been providing hundreds of crores to Odisha for implementation of different welfare schemes. But the money instead is being pocketed by the BJD leaders," he alleged.

OPCC president Jayadev Jena threatened to intensify the demonstration if 10 kg BPL rice is not returned to the people.

Union minister Srikanta Jena demanded chief minister Naveen Patnaik's resignation as the state government's affidavit on Niyamgiri had proved wrong with the gram sabhas voting against the proposal.