On 30 October, Several farmer organisations joined to demonstrate near the Odisha Assembly to demand full crop-loan waiver, even as more incidents of farmer suicides come to light. A night prior to the demonstration a farmer from Bargarh district committed suicide as he was unable to play his loan. All India Kisan Mahasabha also joined the demonstration under the leadership of Com. Tirupati Gamango. Speaking at the demonstration, Ashok Pradhan, leader of the Paschim Odisha KrushakSamananwaya Samiti, which spearheaded the agitation said, “We will intensify our agitation if the state and central government do not fulfil our demand for loan waiver and remunerative price for our produces”. Com. Tirupati Gamango also addressed the meeting highlighting the failures and anti-farmer nature of both the BJP and the BJD governments. Jai Kisan leader Yogendra Yadav and AIKS leader Hanan Mollah also spoke at the event. The farmer leaders expressed anger at the apathetic attitude of the state government towards the farming community at a time it has given “Puja gift” to its employees and doubled the salary of the MLAs and ministers.
