Bhubaneswar, March 3: Activists of the BJD today staged protests in district headquarters, accusing the Centre of neglecting the state in the general budget this year and not allocating funds for the Nabakalebar that is expected to attract over five million devotees.

Members of the Biju Chhatra Janata Dal, Biju Yuva Janata Dal, and the Biju Mahila Janata Dalhad staged dharna outside Raj Bhavan yesterday over the issue.

The party activists gheraoed the district collector's office and held protest meetings outside it.

They also sent memorandum addressed to the governor S.C. Jamir through the district administration.

The leaders alleged that their demand for special category state status to the state and make provisions of the special package was ignored.

'It rather provided Rs 20,000 crore special packages to Bengal and Bihar, but undermined the legitimate demand of Odisha,' said an activist.

Moreover, what aggrieved the leaders was that despite the Nabakalebar is scheduled to be observed this year and the state government has been trying to make it a success, the Centre did not provide any funds in this regard.

'Provision of funds in the budget would have helped to carry out many Nabakalebar projects in Puri. It shows the stepmotherly attitude of the Centre,' said Biju Yuva Janata Dal president Sanjay Das Burma.

Another leader said that no sops had been announced in the Union budget for common men, rather the BJP-led government had favoured the corporate and industrial sectors.

'This budget is anti-people and anti-Odisha. In every sector, the state has been neglected in the budget, and we will keep opposing it,' said student wing president Byomakesh Ray.

The BJD leaders also announced that all the party MLAs and MPs would meet the finance minister and demand more funds for the state.