BJD MLAs seek President's intervention to stop wheat "dumping"

Bhubaneswar, May 3: Strongly opposing the wheat "dumping" on a rice consuming state like Odisha, ruling BJD MLAs on Tuesday, May 3 sought President Pranab Mukherjee's intervention to ensure that the rights of poor beneficiaries and tribal people under the National Food Security Act, 2013 are protected.

"We are forced to knock the President's door as the Centre has ignored the state government's demand," said Panchayati Raj minister Arun Kumar Sahoo.

The ruling party MLAs including ministers today walked down to Raj Bhavan in a rally and submitted a memorandum addressed to the President.

Besides the minister of the department concerned and state Chief Secretary, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also approached the Centre requesting them not to "dump" excess wheat on the people of Odisha, he said.

"Although, the Government of India is insisting for the implementation of NFSA in one hand, on the other hand it is imposing unfair and unjust allocation of food grains to this state.

With 24 per cent of the tribal population, the state government may not be able to ensure food security as per the needs of the poor people of Odisha," the memorandum said.

PTI