BJD to push for special status

● The party will demand special status for Odisha in both the Houses of the Parliament, Pratap Deb said.

Odisha’s ruling Biju Janata Dal ( BJD) on Sunday decided to raise the special category status for the state once again during the upcoming winter session of Parliament, scheduled to begin from December 11.

“The party will demand special status for Odisha in both the Houses of the Parliament,” said Rajya Sabha member and BJD spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deb after the BJD parliamentary party meeting held at Naveen Niwas, chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s residence.

“Our lawmakers will raise several issues, including 33 per cent reservations for women, in Parliament and State Assembly and demand financial aid for cyclonic storm ‘ Titli’- hit districts in the state during the session,” Mr Deb told reporters.

Even if the state contributes much to the Railways, the projects are delayed. We have decided to raise the issue in the Parliament, he said.

The decisions were taken at the parliamentary party meeting chaired by the chief minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik.

“The issues will be raised in the Parliament for interests of Odisha in two different phases. The special category status for the state will be in focus during the session. We will remind the party that is in power at the Centre about their commitments. We will lay emphasis on the central negligence towards Odisha,” said Rajya Sabha member S. R. Patnaik after the meeting.

“The women’s reservation bill is a national issue. The party has decided to raise the issue in the Houses. The state has implemented 33 per cent women reservation in Panchayatraj system in Odisha,” he added.