Bhubaneswar, June 19: Three major political parties - the BJD, Congress and the BJP - today flexed their muscles by holding demonstrations across the state.

The BJD's youth and students' wing today organised a state-wide agitation, protesting against the Chhattisgarh government's denial of proper share of the Mahanadi water and also Union minister of state for external affairs V.K. Singh's statement saying "special category status" would not be accorded to Odisha. The party's activists staged protest rallies and demonstrations at all district headquarters across the state.

The BJP and the Congress separately organised protest meetings on various issues at all the 30 district headquarters. While the BJP's protest was against the corrupt practice of accepting percentage (commission) by the ruling party leaders while awarding and executing works of various welfare schemes, the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) was protesting against the gang-rape and murder of a woman at Kakadahada block in Dhenkanal district.

The Congress submitted a memorandum to governor S.C. Jamir, and in the evening, organised a candle rally in Bhubaneswar. OPCC president Prasad Harichandan led the rally.

The BJD was peeved over remarks of the Chhattisgarh commercial tax and industries minister Amar Agrawal that his government had taken cess from industrial houses to construct barrages on the Mahanadi<>. Attending a programme of the BJP's Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas event in Burla, Agrawal on June 14 said that water cess had already been collected from these industrial houses for 15 years in advance and the money had been used for construction of three to four barrages on the river on Chhattisgarh side. The BJD also alleged that the Chhattisgarh government was working as an agent of the industrial houses.

The BJD has also taken exception to Union minister of state for external affairs V.K. Singh's remark that there was no need to grant special category state status to Odisha as the Centre was releasing more funds to it compared to previous governments.

BJD general secretary in charge of youth affairs Sanjay Das Burma said: "The way the Chhattisgarh government is trying to deny Odisha its right on the Mahanadi river is not acceptable to us. Mahanadi is the lifeline of Odisha."

Das Burma said the water level in the Mahanadi had already receded following the unilateral construction of barrages on the Mahanadi upstream and its impact had already been felt in various parts of the state. "Chief minister Naveen Patnaik has taken up the issue with the Prime Minister. But, no steps have been taken to settle it," he said.

"For the past many years, we have been demanding the special category state status to Odisha. But, the NDA government, just like the UPA government, is taking an anti-Odisha attitude. We will intensify the agitation if our demands are ignored," Das Burma said.