BJD activists demonstrate in Bhubaneswar on Thursday. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 7: The BJD today organised a peaceful demonstration in front of all central government offices and at the headquarters of 18 districts in protest against the Centre’s continuing “neglect of Odisha”.

On Wednesday, a 56-member delegation including ministers and MLAs had met governor S.C. Jamir and gave him a memorandum addressed to the President.

In Bhubaneswar, the BJD activists demonstrated in front of the railway station, Nalco and Reserve Bank of India.

Members of the ruling party said that unless the Centre released money to the state, it would be difficult for them to carry out restoration in the flood-ravaged areas of the state.

Panchayati raj minister Kalapataru Das said: “The state has been a victim of political discrimination. The Centre should rise above political bias and come to the rescue of people who are struggling hard for survival. We have not received even one rupee though two separate memoranda have been submitted to the Centre besides the chief minister’s SOS to the Centre to release Rs 1,000 crore in advance to carry out relief and restoration work.”

The BJD also raised the issue of how the Prime Minister had announced Rs 1,000 crore assistance for the Congress-ruled Uttarakhand barely two days after it was hit by a cloudburst that triggered a flood.

The party also criticised the postponement of the Prime Minister’s visit to Odisha on November 2.

“They have no concern for Odisha. We will continue our protest against the Centre’s apathetic attitude,” said BJD general secretary and minister Debi Prasad Mishra.

A BJP delegation led by its Rajya Sabha member Venkaiah Naidu today visited the cyclone-ravaged areas of Ganjam district. After visiting the areas, Naidu said he would raise the issue in Parliament.

“The Centre should come forward to help the state. It should be declared as a national calamity,” Naidu said.