The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday held a bike rally here from its office to the Raj Bhavan to protest the Union Government’s reduction of kerosene quota to the State.
The rally was led by Minister of Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Sanjay Dasburma. Hundreds of agitators including those from the Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BYJD), squatted before the Raj Bhavan and later submitted a memorandum to President Pranab Mukherjee through the Governor demanding restoration of the full kerosene quota.
later, speaking to mediapersons, Minister Dasburma said he had met the concerned Union Minister and written a number of letters to him to increase the kerosene quota, but in vain. This year, the Centre has allotted only 62,112 kilolitre of kerosene to the State, slashing the quota by nearly 36 per cent.
The people in the remote areas and hilly terrains are dependent on this fuel. Besides, the Odisha police, the Jagannath Temple and other institutions of the State are also among the bulk consumers of kerosene. So, the Centre should allot a minimum of 40,000 kilolitre of kerosene per month to the State, the Minister demanded.
Interestingly, while going to meet the Governor, due to the hot and humid conditions, Dasburma, law Minister Arun Sahu, other BJD leaders and many other party activists did not join the bike rally and, instead, piled up into police vehicles and went to submit the memorandum. Bhubaneswar (Central) MlA Bijay Mohanty, city Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena and many BJD MlAs and leaders were among others who joined the programme.