The Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BYJD), the youth wing of the ruling BJD, launched a dharna in front of the Raj Bhavan here on Monday to protest the conferment of Special Category State (SCS) status to Seemandhra, the new State created after bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, while depriving Odisha of the same despite its longstanding demand for it.
BYJD activists shouted slogans against the “discriminatory policies” of the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre. BYJD president Sanjay Dasburma told reporters that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is no longer the Prime Minister of the country but has reduced himself to Prime Minster of the Congress party. The Prime Minister is being used for narrow political ends of the Congress.
“While the Centre had cited the Raghuram Rajan Committee report to decline Special Category State status to Odisha, how come it has awarded the same to Seemandhra,” Dasburma asked. He pointed out that as per the Raghuram Rajan Committee, Odisha is one of the most backward States.
He said the BYJD would gherao the Raj Bhavan and district headquarters offices beginning from February 26 and would continue its agitation till Special Category State status is given to Odisha. He claimed that it is not a political stunt for the forthcoming elections.
All the three BJD MlAs from Bhubaneswar were at the protest site and addressed the activists. Also present at the site were the newly-inducted associate members of the BJD Jitu Patnaik, the Independent MlA from Champua and Brajakishore Pradhan, Independent MlA from Talcher.
However, the Congress maintained that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik should call an all-party meeting on the issue rather playing politics over it.
Senior Congress leader Narasingha Mishra, referring to Seemandhra, said, “When a State gets divided, some packages are invariably announced to the part that is affected by the bifurcation. So, there is no question of neglecting any other State. If the BJD thinks so, the Chief Minister should hold an all-party meeting and press the demand before the Centre.”