"Special Status is our right and we will continue our fight for this," said Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday as he reiterated his demand for the Special Category Status for the state.
While addressing Biju Janata Dal's (BJD) Jan Sampark Yatra in Bhubaneswar, the Odisha Chief Minister recalled its previous alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and said that the two parties had earlier fought the elections together for the Special Category Status.
Expressing his disappointment over the BJP for not fulfilling the promises they made in their manifesto, Patnaik also accused the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)-led government of not paying heed to the state's demand.
"During the 2014 general elections, BJP assured that if they come to power, they will accord Special Category Status to Odisha. However, after the break-up of the alliance with the BJP in the state, the present NDA government has turned a deaf ear to the demand. It was promised in BJP's manifesto in 2014," he said.
Patnaik explained that the state faces natural calamity every year resulting in great loss of life and damage to property, therefore, their demand for the Special Category Status is justified.
With the Special Category Status, the state will be able to spend more on education, health, infrastructure, etc, the Chief Minister said.
Patnaik further asserted, "The people of Odisha will give a befitting reply to the BJP by defeating in the forthcoming election."
Apart from Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar have also demanded the Special Category Status.
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