Hundreds of the members of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) staged dharana in front of the office of the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (ND) here protesting against the reduction in kerosene quota to the State by the Centre. The dharna was held to protest 25 per cent cut in quota.
“During 2016-17, the allocation of kerosene to the State by the Government of India has been reduced by 97,428 Kl, which is 25 per cent of the regular allotment. This creates lot of inconvenience for the people of the State,” said Deputy Government Chief Whip-cum-Redhakhol MlA Rohit Pujari.
Pujari said that a sizable number of families reside in the inaccessible areas of the State where kerosene is a most essential commodity. But due to reduction in the quota, these poor people are suffering. Such anti Odisha stand causes sharp resentment among the people, he stated.
Though the Government of India has been requested time and again to restore the previous kerosene quota, the request has not been considered, he added.
Senior leaders including Sambalpur MlA Dr Raseswari Panigrahi, Rengali MlA Ramesh Patua, former Rajaya Sabha MP Pramila Bohidar, chairman of Western Odisha Development Council (WODC) Kishore Mohanty among others were present.
The members of Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BYJD) and Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD) also organised a huge bike rally from the PHED ground of the city to the office of the RDC to make people aware of the negligence by the Centre.
The BJD members submitted a memorandum for the President of India to the RDC (ND) Bhaskar Jyoti Sharma.