BJD to press for special category status for Odisha in Parliament

Bhubaneswar: The ruling BJD decided to raise the special category state status for Odisha once again during the upcoming winter session of Parliament, scheduled to begin from December 11.

“The party will demand the special status for Odisha in both the Houses of the Parliament,” said Rajya Sabha MP Pratap Deb after BJD Parliamentary party meeting held at Naveen Niwas here today.

“We will raise several issues including 33 percent reservations for women in Parliament and State Assemblies and demand financial aid for Cyclonic storm ‘Titli’-hit districts in the State during the session,” he told reporters.

Even if the State contributes much to the Railways, the projects are delayed. We have decided to raise the issue in the Parliament, he said.

The decisions were taken at the parliamentary party meeting chaired by Chief Minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik.

“The issues will be raised in the Parliament for interests of Odisha in two different phases. The special category status for the State will be in focus during the session. We will remind the party that is in power at the Centre about their commitments. We will lay emphasis on the central negligence towards Odisha,” said Rajya Sabha MP Soumya Ranjan Patnaik after the meeting.

“The women’s reservation bill is a national issue. The party has decided to raise the issue in the Houses. The CM has increased women reservation to 50% in Panchayatiraj system in Odisha,” he added.