The BJD on Sunday decided to raise nine important issues relating to the State, including special category status (SCS) for Odisha, during the Winter Session of the Parliament scheduled to begin on December 11.
The party took this decision at its Parliamentary Party meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the Naveen Niwas here.
BJD spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Pratap Keshari Deb informed this to mediareporters after the meeting. He said the State’s proposal of 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies and long demand of providing SCS to Odisha would be raised in both the Houses, Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha.
He said the party MPs would also place a demand for availing adequate compensation for various loses caused in coastal districts due to the Cyclone Titli and subsequent floods. Deb said the Centre has already sanctioned financial assistance to other cyclone-affected States, excepting Odisha.
Stating that the Centre has reduced its share in the SC students’ stipend from Rs 220 crore to Rs 30 crore, Deb said party MPs would also raise this issue.
He said the Centre is yet to fulfil the State’s demand for running an express train in the name of Buxi Jagabandhu and to accord Paika Bidroh as he first freedom struggle of the country. These issues would be raised, he said.
The other issues to be raised by the BJD include execution of the State’s proposal to reduce GST on Kendu (Tendu) leaves from 18 per cent to five per cent and sanction funds for new railway rojects in the state. Besides, Mahanadi and Polavaram issued would also be raised in the Parliament, Deb said.