A large number of Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BJYD) activists on Sunday observed ‘black day’ and staged a demonstration by wearing black badges in mouths here near the Raj Bhavan in protest against the apathetic attitude of the Centre in awarding Special Category State (SCS) status to Odisha.
Also pretesting the President’s assent to the Telagana Statehood Bill and the recent approval of the Prime Minister for SCS status to Seemandhra for a period of five years while ignoring Odisha’s long standing demand for a similar status, the activists led by BYJD president Sanjay Dasburma threatened to intensify the agitation unless the demand is met.
Among others, MlAs Pradeep Moharathy, Bhagirathi Badajena and Bijay Mohanty and BMC Mayor Anant Narayan Jena participated in the protest.