The youth wing of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) today announced to hold protest meetings across the state to highlight the Centre's apathy in awarding Odisha the special category status despite a long standing demand, while newly-formed Seemandhra state got the status and financial package.
"The youth wing of BJD will stage a dharna in front of Raj Bhawan on Monday to protest against the Centre's neglect toward Odisha. After staging dharna, the Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BYJD) members will launch an indefinite campaign from February 26 at all the 30 district headquarters of the state," said BYJD president Sanjay Dasburma at a press meet today.
Interestingly, the announcement of mass protest by BJD comes within couple of days after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar called for shutdown protesting grant of special state status to Seemandhra on March 1.
Both Odisha and Bihar have been fighting for special state status tag for nearly a decade, which ensures flow of more fund from the Centre in the form of grant. However, the Centre has been denying this status to both the state citing that they do not meet the criteria such as sharing international border and composition of hilly areas.
However, the recent announcement by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to grant special category status to Seemandhra despite not meeting the criteria has brought back the issue to the fore.
Last week, after bifurcating Andhra Pradesh, the Union government had announced that the residuary region of Andhra Pradesh, now known as Seemandhra, will get the special state status for the next five years, paving the way for more funds and relaxation in taxes.
Later Singh had announced some financial packages for Seemandhra , in line with KBK (Koraput-Bolangir-Koraput) region development fund for Odisha and Bundelkhand development fund in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
Both BJD and Janata Dal (United) have rallied in Delhi demanding special category status for their respective states, but have not succeeded. The recent announcement of agitation is nothing but poll plank, said Odisha Congress leaders.
"Had they been genuinely concerned, they would have taken all political parties into confidence and put pressure on the Centre jointly. They are only interested in gimmicks," said Narasimha Mishra, senior Congress leader.
