BJP failed to keep its promise: CM Naveen on Spcl Category status to Odisha

Bhubaneswar: BJD Supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik once again targeted the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre over the long-standing demand for Special Category status to Odisha.

Addressing party workers at Jana Sampark Padayatra held here today, Patnaik reiterated, “Special category status to Odisha was the first agenda in the 2014 poll manifesto of BJP. However, the party forgot its promise after coming to power.”

The CM stated that youths of Odisha will be more benefited in terms of employment if the Centre accords Special Category status to Odisha.

He further said, “Once Odisha gets the Special Category status, the State’s share in various Centre-sponsored schemes will reduce from 50-50 to 90-10 so that we would be able to spend remaing funds on education, health, infrastructure and other developmental activities.”

Stating that Odisha  is incurring a heavy loss due to natural disasters every year, Patnaik questioned as to whether natural calamity is not a strong ground for the special category status.

He challenged the Centre that people of Odisha will make the BJP recall its 2014 promise in 2019 elections.

“Special Category Status for Odisha is our right. BJD will continue to fight for it,” Patnaik asserted.