BJD MPs on Thursday staged a walkout in the lok Sabha protesting Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s emphasising the Centre’s commitment to the Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh despite the stiff opposition by Odisha.
The BJD members walked out of the House when Jaitley, in his reply to the discussion on the Finance Bill, said the Centre would stick to its commitment made to AP for the project.
Responding to the concerns of TDP members over revenue deficit of Andhra Pradesh by reeling out figures to underline the increase in allotment of funds to AP, Jaitley said all possible helps would be extended to the State by the Centre.
Notably, Odisha has also been demanding a special status for it since long.
Jaitley referred to Polavaram, a major irrigation project which has drawn Odisha’s objection over its fears that part of its territory would be submerged, and insisted that the Centre would abide by its commitment to Andhra Pradesh.
BJD’s Bhartruhari Mahtab rose in protest and wondered how a Central Minister is insisting on implementation of the project when a case relating to it is sub-judice in the Supreme Court.
Though Jaitley said that the concerns of the Odisha would be looked into independently, the BJD members walked out expressing their dissatisfaction over his response.