BJD set to protest for demanding hike in paddy MSP on January 8

The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) will stage a demonstration in front of Parliament on January 8, demanding a hike in the minimum support price (MSP) of paddy. BJD's vice-president Prasanna Acharya, who is also president of the party's farmers' wing, told reporters that the Centre had betrayed the farmers of Odisha with the false assurance to increase the MSP of paddy.

Holding the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre responsible for the miseries of farmers across the country, he alleged that the prime minister had no time to discuss the issue with the members of the all-party House Committee of the State Assembly.

"We will urge the Centre to hike the paddy MSP in accordance with the recommendation of the MS Swaminathan Committee," Acharya said. The BJD members will leave for New Delhi from Bhubaneswar in a special train on January 6 to participate in the demonstration, he said.