Biju Janata Dal on Monday stepped its demand for special category State status for Odisha following Centre’s nod for special status to Seemandhra region for five years after division of Andhra Pradesh.
Youth wing of BJD organised a massive rally in front of Raj Bhawan hitting at Centre for adopting step-motherly attitude towards Odisha.
“Odisha has remained a backward State due to indifferent treatment of the Centre. The development of State would get further boost if special category status is accorded to it,” said Sanjay Dasburma, present of Biju Yuba Janata Dal (BYJD).
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Several party legislators and hundreds of workers participated in the event and lashed out at Centre for ignoring longstanding demand for special category status.
“According to the Raghuram Rajan Commission report, Odisha should have been given adequate financial assistance on basis of backwardness. Centre refused to give special category status to Odisha saying from now on no special category status would be given. But keeping in mind the election, it divided Andhra Pradesh and announced special status to Seemandhra,” Mr. Dasburma said.
Later BJD leaders courted arrest. The party also announced to organize a massive rally to commemorate birth anniversary of Biju Patnaik on March 5.
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