Bhubaneshwar: As the burning of paddy fields by farmers spread to new areas, agriculture minister Damodar Rout today said that the farmers who set on fire their crops will not get any compensation.

Farmers who have suffered more than 33 percent crop loss due to pest attack or any natural calamity will get compensation but those who burnt their paddy fields will not get any assistance, the minister told media persons as two more farmers from Kalahandi and Rayagada districts burnt their crops after failing to save it from pest attack.

“How can they be given compensation? If there is no crop in the fields, how can officials estimate the loss,” he asked.

However, the statement of the minister has evoked strong reaction from the BJP and Preeti, daughter of Brunda Sahu, farmer of Kalapani in Bargarh district who burnt his paddy field and committed suicide the next day.

Describing the statement of the minister as irresponsible, she said her father committed suicide as he knew that government will not help in any case. She demanded the resignation of the minister for making such an insensitive statement.

Even as the report of the district collector on suicide by Brunda Sahu reached the government, the minister said an investigation is required to know the reason behind taking the ultimate step.

Besides, the inquiry will find out whether the agricultural land belonged to him or he was a share-cropper.

The government will also have to check whether he had taken loan, he said and added that no farmer faces financial issues during this period.

“They may be in distress but that doesn’t mean they have nothing to eat,” he said. The minister said government has taken steps to prevent farmers from taking loans from private money lenders. State government provides loan to them without any mortgage and very low-interest rate, he said.