TNI Bureau: Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Bhakta Charan Das said a “call for struggle” has emerged from Nayagarh, accusing the BJP government at the Centre and in the state of failing farmers and suppressing democratic rights.

Addressing a massive Krushak Nyaya Shobhayatra and protest meeting in Nayagarh, organised under the leadership of district Congress president Ranjit Das, Bhakta Charan Das alleged large-scale mismanagement in paddy procurement, delay in opening mandis, rising input costs and denial of free electricity to farmers.

He claimed that mandis in Nayagarh are yet to be fully operational and alleged irregularities in paddy procurement, stating that farmers were forced to sell paddy at lower prices despite the government announcing a higher minimum support price. He also alleged that farmers are paying inflated prices for fertilisers like urea and are being denied fair returns.

The OPCC president further accused the state government of using police force against protesting farmers. He alleged that the Agriculture Minister was “using police as enforcers” to suppress farmers’ movements in regions like Sonepur, Bargarh and Balangir.

Referring to Nayagarh’s history, Das recalled the 1975 people’s movement where locals protected forests with traditional sticks, calling it a rare example of people’s courage in India’s history. He said Nayagarh has always stood for farmers’ rights, people’s movements and democratic values.

Das also criticised the BJP governments over unemployment, contractualisation of jobs, reduction in central funding for welfare schemes like MGNREGA, and alleged exploitation of Odisha’s mineral resources by large corporate houses. He claimed that despite Odisha’s rich coal and mineral reserves, farmers and common people continue to suffer.

He questioned the delay in providing free electricity, alleging that while industries receive power at cheaper rates, farmers in Odisha are burdened with high electricity costs. He said providing electricity to farmers could significantly improve agricultural productivity in regions lacking irrigation facilities.

Calling for sustained public mobilisation, Bhakta Charan Das announced that he would undertake a 20-kilometre padayatra in every block in the coming days to strengthen democracy and mobilise farmers, youth and workers against what he termed as injustice and oppression.

Several Congress leaders were present at the meeting, including District Kisan Congress president Basanta Kar, Husen Khan, Saroj Parida, Fakir Malla, Satyabrata Nayak, Bibhu Prasad Mishra, Purnachandra Shanta, Baijayantimala Mahanti, youth leader Yasir Nawaz, Pratik Mahanti, NSUI president Shiv Ranjan Sahu, Jibanjyoti Prakash Rout and Amlan Anshuman. Thousands of farmers, agricultural labourers and workers also participated in the programme.