Saturday, July 12, 2025
spot_img

BJD rally in Delhi seeking spl status for Odisha

Date:

Share post:

spot_imgspot_img

New Delhi: Nearly 30,000 people from Odisha led by BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik gathered at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on Wednesday to protest against the centre’s apathy towards the state’s demand for the special category status.

“Around 30,000 people are attending the Swabhiman Samavesh rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi,” Vinod Dhawan, a protester, said.

“It has been a very long standing demand of Odisha for special category status. The state satisfies the existing criteria for special status,” Biju Janata Dal leader and Lok Sabha MP Jay Panda told a news channel here.

“Some states are getting special category benefits who have three times the per capita income of Odisha, and twice of what the national average is,” he added.

The chief minister has been pressing for the special category status to Odisha, citing the state as one of the poorest in the country. He has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh many times in this regard.

According to Patnaik, Odisha satisfies most of the criteria for special status, except that it does not have an international boundary. (IANS)

spot_imgspot_img

Related articles

M’laya’s tax share surges 572% to Rs 48,883 cr in 10 years: FM

SHILLONG, July 11: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday highlighted the significant increase in central financial support...

FM eulogises traditional Khasi wisdom

SHILLONG, July 11: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was all praise for the traditional wisdom of the Khasi...

Sitharaman lays base for projects worth Rs 1,400 cr

SHILLONG, July 11: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday virtually laid the foundation for several key projects...