In sharp contrast to the party line on the cause of farmers' suicides in Odisha, ruling BJD MP Pinaki Mishra today said he was aware of a case where a peasant took the extreme step as he was unable to repay loan taken from a money lender having links with BJP.
This was stated by Mishra after he met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik who recently asked MPs, MLAs and district presidents of BJD to meet the farmers and stand by them during the drought crisis.
"I had specifically come to meet the Patnaik in this regard. I requested the CM to direct the newly appointed DGP to immediately crack down on private money lenders who provide loans to farmers with an annual interest of 36 per cent. There are about 30-40 private money lenders in Odisha who are close to BJP. They have huge money and they are forcing hapless farmers to commit suicide. Police should have all information on this," Mishra told reporters.
Mishra said he had received a report on the suicide of a farmer of Ranpur area of his constituency.
The Puri MP also alleged that BJP was involved in money lending business to provide loans to farmers in Odisha.
Mishra is the second BJD MP after Sambalpur MP Nagendra Pradhan who too rejected the state government's claim that farmers did not commit suicide due to crop loss and debt burden.
"I do not know what district collectors' report say. But, I can say that farmers committed suicide out of frustration and loan burden," Pradhan said.
The two MPs' statements came at a time when the state government refused to admit that farmers' suicide had anything to do with the agricultural crisis. "Farmers in Odisha do not commit sucide. Some opposition leaders are making such allegations just to defame the state and farmers pride," said senior BJD leader and Cooperation Minister Damodar Rout.
BJD spokesman Samir Ranjan Dash also did not agree that farmers committed suicide for crop loss or loan burden. "Let the MPs give specific instance where the farmer committed suicide due to loan burden," Dash said.
Meanhwile, both BJP and Congress sharply reacted over the statements of Mishra and Pradhan.
"BJD is making a desperate bid to cover up its own failure. It's not clear who is saying what in BJD on farmer suicides. While Excise Minister Damodar Rout said farmers do not commit suicide, MP Nagendra Pradhan has said farmers were committing suicide due to crop loss. Now MP Pinaki Mishra has alleged that BJP was involved in money lending. His allegation is completely baseless. It is BJP which right from the beginning has been saying that money lending was behind farmer suicides," said BJP vice-president Pratap Sarangi.
Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra of Congress said, "Now the state government has been exposed by BJD MPs. It's a slap on the face of ruling party leaders who claimed that farmers in Odisha do not commit suicide."
"Money lending is being carried by some new money lenders created by Naveen Babu. I do not deny whether BJP is behind money lending business," Mishra said.
Meanwhile, newly appointed DGP K B Singh said, "Police will soon initiate action against persons undertaking illegal money lending in the state.
