BJD’s student and youth wings to hit streets over Mahanadi, SCS issue

Bhubaneswar: Come Monday, the youth and students’ wings of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) will hit the streets over Mahanadi water issue and Union Minister VK Singh’ remark on special category status to Odisha.

The youth and student activists of BJD will hold protests and stage agitations at all district headquarters across the state against center’s apathy towards Odisha over special category status and Mahanadi water sharing dispute, said Ranjit Mohapatra, Advisor, Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BYJD).

Expressing his displeasure over the remark of Union Minister VK Singh that Odisha doesn’t need special category status, he said, “The Union Minister’s statement is really unfortunate.”

Notably, during his Odisha visit, reacting to Odisha’s demand for special category status, Union Minister of State for External Affairs General VK Singh on Tuesday had said that the Centre had already launched a lot of welfare schemes for states, including Odisha.

“When the states are getting the required assistance, why is there a demand for special category status?” the Minister had questioned at a press meet at BJP state headquarters here.

Worth mentioning, The Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BYJD) activists on Wednesday had taken out a bike rally and burnt the effigy of VK Singh protesting his remarks over Odisha’s demand for special category status.

Later, the activists had also submitted a memorandum to Governor SC Jamir.