Bhubaneswar: Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress on Friday stepped up their attack on the Odisha government over the Food Corporation of India’s (FCI) slow lifting of rice from the state, warning that the issue could affect paddy procurement during the upcoming Kharif season.

The reactions came a day after Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra publicly expressed concern over the delay in lifting custom-milled rice and said it was creating difficulties for the state’s paddy procurement operations.

BJD says Centre neglecting Odisha

Addressing a press conference, BJD vice-presidents Sanjay Dasburma and Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak said the minister’s remarks had vindicated the party’s repeated allegations that the Centre was neglecting Odisha.

The BJD leaders said it was significant that a minister in the BJP-led state government has himself admitted that the FCI was not lifting rice as per the targets fixed by it.

They alleged that around 18 lakh metric tonnes of rice was lying in the state due to the delay in lifting. If the stocks are not cleared soon, they said, there could be inadequate storage space for the rice that will be generated from the upcoming paddy procurement.

The BJD leaders also questioned why rice was being lifted from other states while Odisha was facing difficulties in getting its stocks lifted.

They said a delegation of 20 MPs from Odisha had earlier met the Centre and urged it to lift Odisha’s surplus rice. They also claimed that the Food Supplies Minister had met the Union Minister several times over the issue.

'Government's hands are tied'

The BJD leaders referred to Patra’s statement that the state government’s “hands are getting tied” if FCI does not lift rice.

The party demanded that the minister raise the issue in the Odisha Assembly and take up the matter with the Centre on an urgent basis.

The BJD leaders warned that the party would take to the streets if the situation was not resolved soon.

Congress demands minister's resignation

Congress leader Santosh Singh Saluja also targeted the state government, accusing it of shifting the blame to farmers and the Centre instead of accepting responsibility for its own failures.

Saluja said the minister’s statement showed that the “double-engine” BJP government has failed to resolve the issue despite having governments of the same party at the state and Centre.

He said the timing of the problem was particularly concerning as Kharif paddy procurement is approaching.

“If FCI does not lift rice, how will paddy procurement take place?” Saluja questioned, alleging that farmers were already facing difficulties during registration for procurement.

He accused the BJP government of completely failing in administration and demanded the resignation of the Food Supplies Minister.

Minister's earlier statement on the issue

Patra, speaking at the 47th Foundation Day function of the Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation in Bhubaneswar on Thursday, had said FCI was not lifting rice according to the targets fixed by it.

He said the state was spending around Rs 30,000 crore on paddy procurement and ensuring that farmers receive payments within 48 hours. However, unless the procured paddy is milled into rice and the rice stocks are lifted, the state could face difficulties in continuing procurement.

Patra said he would once again lead a high-level delegation to Delhi to press for faster lifting of rice from Odisha. The minister also said Odisha has sent 20 Lok Sabha members and deserved the right to place its demands before the Centre.