Odisha joins chorus, BJD sits on dharna for special status

Activists slam 'discriminatory' policies of UPA

The ruling BJD on Monday staged a dharna near Raj Bhavan to protest against the Centre’s denial of special category status to Odisha while according the same to the newly created Seemandhra after bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

The activists of the BJD’s youth wing accused the Congress led UPA government of adopting discriminatory policies for narrow political benefits.

“Dr Manmohan Singh did not work as the Prime Minister of India. But he behaved like the PM of Congress party,” said Sanjay Dasburma, president of the youth wing of the BJD. He alleged that the Prime Minister was being used for narrow political ends of the Congress.“While the Centre had cited the Raghuram Rajan committee report to decline special category state status to Odisha, how come it has awarded the same to Seemandhra?” the BYJD chief asked. According to the Raghuram Rajan Committee report, Odisha is one of the most backward state and should get special category status, the BJD leaders said .

 Opposition Congress, maintained that the BJD should convene an all party meeting rather than playing politics over it.

“When a state gets divided, some packages are usually announced to the part that is affected by the bifurcation. So, there is no question of neglecting any other state. If the BJD thinks so, the chief minister should call an all party meeting and put the demand before the Centre,” said Congress media cell chairman Narsingh Mishra.