Tension near Naveen Niwas as NKS stages protest with paddy bags
Tension near Naveen Niwas as NKS stages protest with paddy bags
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Bhubaneswar: On a chilly Monday morning, temperatures surged as a skirmish broke out between police and farmers, who took to the streets of Odisha's capital over paddy procurement irregularities.
According to accounts, members of the Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan were stopped by police as they marched towards the Chief Minister's residence to protest by dumping paddy. A group attempted to storm the CM's home but were stopped by security. A number of protestors were also detained in order to bring the situation under control.
Farmers demanded the minimum support price for paddy and stated weight deductions under fair average quality (FAQ) guidelines should be abolished, citing 'katni chanti' at mandis.
Following the failed attempt to gherao Naveen Niwas, the agitators held a protest at the Airfield police station. They also vowed to hold protests in all 147 assembly constituencies if their demands were not granted.
"While the government is busy with the preparations for Hockey World Cup, it lacks the seriousness to solve numerous difficulties of farmers. The intermediaries profit at the expense of the farmers. This was just a trailer, and the protest would pick up steam in the coming days. "The farmers are willing to go to jail for their rights," an NKS member stated.
