Failing to get any positive response on the demand for special category status (SCS) for Odisha even after completion of a month to the rally at New Delhi last month, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Thursday decided to sit on a symbolic hunger strike in front of the blocks, municipalities and NACs against the Congress-led UPA Government’s apathy.
BJD vice presidents Finance Minister Prasanna Acharya and Panchayati Raj Minister Kalpataru Das, addressing a Press conference here at the party headquarters, said the decision to sit on a hunger strike was taken at a meeting of the party observers for different districts held here under the chairmanship of party president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday. The BJD activists will sit on the strike from 10 am to 5 pm on any one date on July 12, 15 and 16 across the State, they informed.
Acharya and Das said Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram had announced in February last that within two months a committee would be constituted and on the recommendations of the committee, the guidelines for according SCS on States would be changed. But so far nothing has happened and the Union Government has failed to keep its promise, they alleged. The two senior vice presidents of the party said the party decided to launch its second phase of agitation in support of the demand as the Centre did not concede to the demand till date.
They revealed that the issue of poll preparedness for the ensuing elections to the Urban local Bodies was discussed and it was resolved to form election and campaign committee. The observers would be asked to submit comprehensive report on political situation by July 25 to the party president for his approval. The committee will also be responsible for selection of candidates and decide the campaign strategy and submit a list of prospective candidates with winning prospect in consultation with the local leaders to the president by August 10 for final decision, they said.
The president also asked the observers to ensure holding of district and block level workers’ meeting in all districts and blocks by September next, Acharya said. Das said it was decided that there would be a training camp for at least five workers from each Gram Panchayats on welfare programmes and achievement of the State Government and Central neglect to the State. The camps would be completed by September next, he said.