The State Government on Friday agreed to procure paddy from all registered farmers.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Keshari Arukhs informed this in the State Assembly after an all-party meeting held by Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro. He also informed that criminal cases would be lodged against the fake farmers if they are caught during inspection.

Earlier in the day, the Assembly witnessed repeated adjournments following pandemonium by Opposition members over the paddy procurement issue. Deogarh BJP MLA Subash Chandra Panigrahi went to the Well of the House and threatened to commit suicide if paddy is not procured from all farmers. Panigrahi, however, returned to his seat after the Speaker assured him that he would be given opportunity to raise the issue during the Zero Hour. As soon as the Zero Hour began, Panigrahi was given the first chance to speak.

He said that many farmers are not able to sell their paddy in the mandis following the introduction of the centralised token system.

Adding to the heat on the issue, Congress Legislature Party Leader Narasingha Mishra sat on dharna in the well of the House demanding immediate procurement of paddy from farmers at different mandis of the State.

Criticisng the State Government for its alleged silence over the farmers’ plight, Mishra demanded procurement of paddy from all registered farmers.

“We want a specific reply from the Government. Let the Speaker convene an all-party meeting and resolve the issue immediately,'' Mishra said.

Unable to run the House due to the ruckus, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings several times and then called an all-party meeting to resolve the deadlock.