The BJD is back to its usual politics of Centre bashing. This time, its issue is Special Category State status for Seemandhra, the newest State created after bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, and not to Odisha.
The Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BYJD), the ruling party’s youth wing, will stage a dharna at the Raj Bhavan here on Monday to protest against the Centre’s neglect of Odisha by ignoring its longstanding demand for Special Category State tag while granting the status to Seemandhra on “political grounds”. This was announced by BYJD president Sanjay Dasburma on Sunday.
After staging the dharna, BYJD members would launch an indefinite dharna campaign from February 26 at all the 30 district headquarters, he said.Interestingly, the BYJD’s decision came a day after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced that his party would launch an agitation against the denial of Special Category status to his State, suggesting the ruling BJD in Odisha is merely aping its counterpart in Bihar rather than coming up with an original thought.
In his reaction to the BJD’s move, senior Congress leader Narsingha Mishra said the BJD is more interested in politics rather than achieving Special Category State status. “Had they been genuinely concerned, they would have taken all political parties in the State into confidence and put pressure on the Centre jointly. They are only interested in gimmicks,” Mishra said.