Though Odisha satisfies all the criteria for Special Category State (SCS) status except an international boundary, the Central Government is not interested to award the SCS tag to the State for political reason,” said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, while receiving the one crore signature booklets here.
The booklets would be handed over to President Pranab Mukherjee after the Swabhiman Samabesh rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on June 12, demanding SCS tag to the State. Addressing the rally, Patnaik said the Congress-led UPA Government is showing favour to certain States for its political gain. The Centre has been neglecting us though it collects the highest revenue from State’s mining, railway and other sectors, he added.
“To protest the historical neglect, we would raise our voice at the national capital and demand the SCS tag for our State,” said Patnaik and called upon the people of the State to extend full support to make the Samabesh a great success.
The Chief Minister said the State has continued its development process by its own attempt. If the Centre awards the SCS tag to the State, he said, it would change the financial and social condition of the State. The special fund would bring sustainable growth as well as financial stability for the State, he asserted.
MlA and BJD’s vice president Anang Uday Singhdeo alleged that some workers and leaders of the Congress may create problem for the rally by delaying trains so that people of the State could not reach New Delhi in time to attend the rally. If it becomes true, Congress will be responsible for the delay, Singhdeo added.
Senior party leader and MlA V Sugyan Kumari Deo handed over the first copy of the booklets having over 1 crore signature to the Chief Minister at the rally.
Minister Arun Sahu said that more than 1.20 crore signatures have been collected from all the Assembly constituency of the State and that would be presented to the President on June 12. Around 30,000 people would congregate at the Ramlila Maidan, he said.
Out of the total congregation, around 15,000 people living in New Delhi would join the rally, while another 15,000 would come from the State and for which seven trains were booked for the journey. The trains would begin its journey from Monday and would return from New Delhi on the evening of July 12, the Minister informed.