"Since paddy procurement is about to start, Odisha government must declare a minimum bonus of Rs 300 per quintal over and above the MSP in view of farmers' plight," Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee President Niranjan Patnaik told reporters here.
Accusing the state government of neglecting farmers and failing to provide them water for irrigation, fertilisers, seeds and insecticides in time, Patnaik said the BJD government should take the necessary steps.
During a week-long 'parivartan padyatra' organised by Congress, party leaders travelling through villages came to know about the problems of farmers who spent double the money this time than investment made in last kharif, he said.
Should the the state government fail to provide the minimum bonus demanded by Congress, the party would hit the streets, Patnaik said.
The state Congress chief also dubbed as 'eye-wash and grossly inadequate' the hike in daily minimum wages announced by Odisha government yesterday.
On the alleged multi-crore mining scam, the PCC chief reiterated the party's demand for a CBI probe and wondered why Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was reluctant to recommend it.
