Claiming that a special category status was Odisha’s ‘genuine’ right due to its backwardness, ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLAs on Monday ridiculed Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s formula of putting a condition to get the tag.
“We will not sell or bargain ‘ swabhiman’ (self-esteem) for getting the status of special category State. We will not hesitate to revolt against the Centre in demanding the status,” said BJD Vice-President Prafulla Ghadai.
“We cannot put a condition like Nitish Kumar to get special category status. We will fight for our rights,” Ghadai said during zero hour in the Assembly, adding that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had been demanding it for the past 13 years.
Patnaik, he said, had raised the issue at different platforms such as National Development Council (NDC) and Planning Commission.
Stating that the Centre proposed to change criteria for putting States in special category list, Ghadai said, “We will verify what changes they bring. Odisha satisfies all criteria except having international border to get special category status.”
The issue of Nitish Kumar’s “Adhikar” rally in Delhi on Monday was raised during Zero Hour by senior Congress member, S S Saluja, who offered to support the BJD if it holds a similar event in Delhi for Odisha’s demand.
“Hold a Swabhiman rally at Delhi. Leaders cutting across party lines will support the Government if it demands special category status,” Saluja said.
His suggestion was rejected by many BJD MLAs who questioned Congress’s silence on the issue.
“Demand of special category state status is in BJD manifesto. But, what has Congress done?” asked BJD member Prasant Nanda.