BJD Protest Rally Over Fertiliser Scarcity Turns Tense Near Raj Bhavan

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) workers staged a protest rally in Bhubaneswar on Monday to draw attention to the alleged acute scarcity of fertilisers in Odisha, culminating in a scuffle with police as demonstrators attempted to breach barricades near Raj Bhavan. The opposition party accused the BJP-led state government of failing farmers by allowing black marketing and hoarding, with urea bags—officially priced at Rs 249 for 45 kg—being sold at Rs 800 to Rs 1,000 by unscrupulous traders. Police used mild force to disperse the crowd but later permitted select BJD leaders to submit a memorandum to Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati seeking immediate intervention.

The rally, led by BJD vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra and deputy leader in the Assembly Prasanna Acharya, saw participation from MPs, MLAs, farmers, students, and youths. Protesters raised anti-government slogans, blaming the administration for prioritising politics over agrarian needs during the ongoing kharif season. BJD MLA Ganeswar Behera alleged the government had ignored ground realities, turning a blind eye to farmers' plight. Mishra claimed the state had diverted Centre-allocated subsidised fertilisers to traders, ignoring a letter from BJD president Naveen Patnaik to the Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers for enhanced urea supply. Acharya noted farmers comprise 70% of Odisha's population, warning of intensified block-level agitations if demands are unmet, potentially sparking law-and-order issues.

The fertiliser crisis has escalated in recent weeks, with reports of long queues and unrest in districts like Ganjam and Koraput and along highways such as Khordha-Bolangir. Farmers have protested delays in distribution, exacerbated by bumper monsoons boosting paddy cultivation and demand. The BJD's action follows earlier dharnas and criticisms, including a planned September 17 protest, amid opposition claims of a Rs 200-250 crore scam through artificial scarcity. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi reviewed the situation on September 11, directing collectors to monitor supplies via Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and curb black marketing.

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The BJP government rebutted the allegations, with Cooperation Minister Pradeep Bala Samanta stating 10.85 lakh tonnes of fertilisers were sold this year against 8.5 lakh tonnes last year, with 1.8 lakh tonnes in stock. He attributed higher demand to good rainfall and expanded paddy areas, assuring strict action against hoarding. BJP spokesperson Surath Biswal accused the BJD of instigating farmers for political gain, insisting no scarcity existed statewide. The Centre allocated 9.55 lakh tonnes for kharif up to September 30, with 9.85 lakh tonnes already sold from total stocks. As the standoff intensifies, the episode underscores deepening political rifts in Odisha ahead of potential elections.

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