BJD MP Prasanna Acharya criticises Centre for not fulfilling its promise of doubling farmers’ revenue

By PTI

NEW DELHI: BJD MP Prasanna Acharya on Friday criticised the Union authorities for paying solely lip service on girls empowerment and never fulfilling its promise to double the revenue of farmers by 2022.

Participating within the dialogue on Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address within the Rajya Sabha, he additionally raised issues concerning the makes an attempt being made by the Centre to “weaken” the federal construction of the nation.

Acharya additionally identified that the central authorities was not accepting Odisha’s demand to offer particular class standing to the state. Though the senior BJD chief supported the movement, he mentioned there have been some contradictions within the phrases and deeds of the Union authorities.

At the outset, Acharya mentioned, the federal government has taken the precise determination to begin the Republic Day celebrations from January 23, which is the birthday of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. He appreciated the Centre for taking a “nationalistic approach in some respect”.

Raising the difficulty of farmers, Acharya mentioned the federal government has not been capable of meet the goal of doubling their revenue by 2022. He additionally expressed concern over instances of farmer suicides. “Farmers’ income has not been doubled. This is the promise of the government that by 2022, farmers’ income will be doubled… Can the government say that by now, it has been able to double the income? No Sir. Farmers’ income has not been doubled,” he mentioned.

Acharya requested why farmers are dying by suicides daily if their incomes have doubled. Quoting the info of the National Crime Record Bureau, he mentioned that 42,480 farmers and every day wage employees ended their lives in 2019, up six per cent from the earlier 12 months. “Every year the number of farmers’ suicides is going up. Why?” he sought to know.

Acharya mentioned that the federal government can also be not answering whether or not it is going to deliver a regulation to offer authorized proper to MSP. On girls empowerment, he mentioned the President’s tackle termed it as one of many prime priorities of the federal government.

“(But) It is just contrary to facts,” he mentioned and cited examples of the Sabrimala case and the ladies reservation invoice to show his level. “On the one hand we say about women emancipation and on the other hand, we prevent women from entering a temple and offer prayer to their lords. This is a double standard,” the BJD chief mentioned.

Pointing out that girls’s illustration in each Parliament and assemblies could be very low at round 10 per cent, Acharya mentioned it’s excessive time to deliver the Women Reservation Bill. “Even in Muslim countries, women representation is higher,” he mentioned.

Acharya additionally rued that the Centre was not accepting the demand of the Odisha authorities for particular class standing to the state. The BJD chief alleged that the Centre is taking away the powers of states with each regulation being made and thereby weakening the federal construction of the nation. “Kindly desist from doing this. Federalism is our essence,” he famous.

Acharya additionally talked about “step-motherly treatment” to Odisha in awarding of central tasks and demanded AIIMS at Sundargarh. He additionally questioned the Union authorities’s coverage for imposing cess and surcharges on numerous merchandise like petroleum, saying it denies the states their rightful share in tax devolution.