Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra on Wednesday termed the Odisha bandh called by the Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan (NNKS) a “super flop”, claiming it failed to receive support from farmers across the state.
Addressing the media, Patra said genuine farmers did not take part in road blockades or protests, indicating their trust in the state government. He accused the organisation of attempting to mislead the public and asserted that such efforts had been rejected by the farming community.
Highlighting the progress of paddy procurement, the minister said the process was running smoothly throughout Odisha. As of Tuesday, 37,91,225 metric tonnes of paddy had been procured. He added that more than Rs 8,000 crore had already been transferred directly to farmers’ bank accounts.
While procurement has been completed in several districts, it is nearing completion in others. Patra reiterated that procurement operations are being conducted transparently, with timely payments and minimal inconvenience to cultivators, reinforcing the government’s commitment to farmers’ welfare.
