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BJP leader strikes scathing blow at CM December 12, 2009

Posted by orissakhabar in Latest news.
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BHUBANESWAR, 11 DEC: (Courtesy: Statesman News Service)

Forty distressed farmers have committed suicide during the last few months and the entire peasant community has lost confidence in the state government, charged BJP leader and former rural development minister, Mr Biswabhusan Harichandan (in photo).
Chief minister, Mr Naveen Patnaik should apologise to the people of the state and the farmers in particular, as he has failed to mitigate their sufferings, said the BJP leader at a press conference today.
The fact that a farmer, in the agriculture minister, Mr Damodar Rout’s home district, committed suicide a couple of days ago exemplifies the fact that the so-called packages announced by the state government to try and inspire confidence amongst depressed farmers have failed, Mr Harichandan noted.
Criticising that the “package” was announced by the government only after reports of farmer suicide had started trickling in from districts, Mr Harichandan said that nobody believes that the government can set up five lakh water bodies (ponds/tanks) in five years. Where is the space and money for this in villages, he asked. Similarly, the promised assistance of Rs 2000 or Rs 4000 per acre is peanuts, given the amount of loan and crop loss incurred by the farmers, he further observed. The BJP leader demanded waiver of farm loans, restoration of all lift-irrigation points, subsidy on inputs including seeds, fertiliser, pesticides etc. Referring to the other major issue, the multi-crore mining scam, Mr Harichandan alleged that the winter session of the Assembly was abruptly curtailed when chief minister, Mr Naveen Patnaik’s name figured in media reports listing out the mining lease granted by him. The Naveen Patnaik government had adopted a subtle way of allowing the loot of mineral resources to go on by just signing off leases renewal applications. The modus operandi was to allow mining activity pending grant of lease, benefiting the mining industry, Mr Harishchandan alleged. The BJP leader dodged questions on the bitter infighting in the party which had reportedly resulted in deferment of organisational elections.

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