BJD vows to fight for the identities of Odisha, party
BHUBANESWAR: Two days after BJD president and chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s attack on national parties for their step-motherly attitude towards Odisha, a similar mood was visible at the party’s executive committee meeting on Sunday during which the roadmap for the future was laid.
While nine resolutions were passed in the executive committee meeting, ‘central neglect’ was prominent among them. Naveen, who chaired the meeting through video-conference, only gave his assent to the resolutions. Party sources said he is excepted to speak during the BJD’s political programme at the state council meeting on Monday.
The party said it would continue to fight against the Centre over issues like special category status, Mahanadi row, classical tag for Odissi music, inclusion of Kosali and Ho languages in the 8th schedule of the Constitution and revision of coal royalty.
The party would also fight over issues like implementation of the M S Swaminathan committee on minimum support price, reservation of 33% seat for women in Parliament and state assemblies and welfare of SC/ST communities and minorities. “BJD as a regional party has always prioritized Odisha’s interest and its self-esteem. Our party was constituted to fight for the cause of the state. We have been fighting for the state’s interests both at the government and organization level. There are some political forces at the national level who are trying to destroy the significance of regional parties like the BJD,” said senior party leader Prasanna Acharya after the meeting.
Without naming the national parties, Acharya said that some of them are directly or indirectly trying to attack the federal structure of the country and trying to squeeze power out of various states.
“As the role of regional parties are crucial in such a situation, we have resolved in the executive committee meeting to remain prepared to fight for cause of Odisha,” Acharya added.
The BJP took a dig at the central neglect allegation levelled by the BJD. Talking to reporters, state BJP president Samir Mohanty said such tactics is to divert attention from issues like the Nayagarh incident.