Cong to hold massive farmers’ rally on Nov 19

Bhubaneswar: The Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee has decided to organize a massive rally in state capital here on November 19 to highlight the issues relating to the farmers’ suicide cases.

Briefing newsmen at the Congress Bhawan here on Monday, Pradesh Kishan Khet Mazdoor Congress president Amiya Patnaik said that so far 2,635 farmers have committed suicide in the last nine years.

The plights of the farmers have increased day by day due to the faulty policy of the state government, he said, adding that the people would teach a befitting lesson to the government if it fails to address the plight of the farmers.

Patnaik also said that the state government should constitute a Kissan (Farmers’) Commission, order an independent inquiry into the farmer’s suicide case, bring necessary amendments into the relief codes, announce special agriculture plans, Rs 1,000 monthly allowance to the farmers, the total waive off tariff on power used for agriculture purposes.

If the state government fails fulfill the demands, agitation would be launched in all the blocks of the state.

Demands would also be raised for the resignation of the chief minister, Patnaik said.