Bhubaneswar, Aug. 23: The BJD today stalled proceedings in the Assembly and protested on the streets against the Centre’s alleged apathy to the state’s demand for a special-category status.
The immediate provocation for the ruling party was a statement of Union minister of state for planning Rajeev Shukla that under existing norms Odisha was not entitled to the status.
His subsequent clarification that the Raghuram Rajan Committee, which is yet to submit its report, would revisit the norms and sympathetically consider the demands of various states including Odisha, did not satisfy the BJD leaders.
Upset over Shukla’s statement, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said Odisha would continue its fight for its rightful claim for the status. Shukla had made the statement in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
Carrying placards and banners, BJD today stalled the proceedings at the Assembly. Outside the House, its frontal organisations blocked traffic at various places in the city and burnt effigies of Congress leaders, including Shukla.
Later, BJD MLAs marched to Raj Bhavan and submitted a memorandum to governor S.C. Jamir.
The Congress, on the other hand, described BJD’s aggressive posturing as premature. Its leaders, including Union minister of state for chemical and fertilisers Srikant Jena, leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh and Congress chief whip Prasad Harichandan made it clear that Shukla’s statement in the Rajya Sabha was based on the existing criterion for the grant of special category status.
“BJD should remember that the NDA government, of which the party was once a constituent, had categorically ruled out the possibility of Odisha getting the special status (under existing norms),” said Prasad Harichandan.
The UPA, he said, was considerate towards the demand for the special status, and was awaiting the report of the Raghuram Rajan Committee.
“Instead of jumping to conclusions, they should wait for the committee’s report. The issue should not be politicised,” said Jena.
BJD MPs, led by Prasanna Patasani, met Raghuram Rajan in New Delhi and urged him to consider the demands of Odisha.
“The committee has not sought information from the state on this issue. We apprised him of the need for a special-category status to the state,” said MP Bhartruhari Mahatab.
Significantly, the Assembly was to discuss an adjournment motion given by the Opposition on the issue of the special-category status.
“The BJD members should not think that House is their property. They should have discussed the issue rather than stalling proceedings of the House. They disrupted the proceedings for political gain,” said leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh.
However as soon as the Assembly resumed today, the BJD MLAs, led by senior leader Ranendra Pratap Swain, trooped into the well of the House and began a demonstration.
The Congress MLAs also waved placards and banners saying that Odisha was denied the special category state status during the NDA government when the BJD was part of it.
The House was adjourned within a minute of commencing its proceedings at 10.30am. There were more disruptions before the Assembly was adjourned for the day as the stalemate continued.
Biju Chatra Janata Dal organised a motorcycle rally from BJB college to Vani Vihar. Later, they burnt the effigies of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.