Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today reiterated the demand for special category status for the state (SCS) even as ruling BJD ministers and MLAs disrupted proceedings of the assembly while party men protested outside.
"It is most unfortunate that Union Minister Mr Rajiv Shukla denied Odisha's rightful demand of special category status for Odisha. We will continue our rightful struggle for the demand of special category status for the state," Patnaik told reporters.
Patnaik was reacting to Union Planning Minister Rajiv Shulka's statement in Rajya Sabha yesterday that the state did not qualify for grant of the status.
As soon as the day's session began with question hour, BJD MLAs rushed to the well and raised slogans condemning the UPA government's's "anti-Odisha attitude" with entire treasury bench was on its feet and displaying banners in support of the demand.
The opposition Congress members also contributed to the din and shouted at top of their voice blaming the ruling party for not making similar demand when NDA government rejected SCS for Odisha.
As the din continued, Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat adjourned the house first till 12.30 pm and later for the day.
Angry BJD MLAs and some ministers later staged a dharna near Mahatma Gandhi's statue inside the assembly premises in support of the special category state demand. The also marched to Raj Bhavan and submitted a memorandum to Governor S C Jamir.
