Intensifying the protest against the Centre’s “step-motherly” stance towards Odisha as exemplified by the recent meagre allocation of Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF), BJD leaders and workers on Monday staged a demonstration in front of the Raj Bhavan here.
A party delegation led by former Finance Minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadai later submitted a memorandum on the issue to Governor Dr SC Jamir.
“The Central Government is continuously neglecting Odisha and we will take this issue to the people,” said BJD MlA Ashok Chandra Panda. If all the districts of Bihar are getting BRGF allocation then why backward Odisha is not considered for such gesture by the UPA Government at the Centre, Panda wanted to know.
President of Biju Yuva Janata Dal and MlA Sanjay Dasbarma said the party would further intensify its campaign against the Centre’s neglect towards the State.
In fact, the BJD will hold awareness campaigns on the issue in all districts from April 23 before a 12-hour Odisha Bandh called by it on April 26.