Naveen reiterates demand for special category status to Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik on Friday reiterated the demand for special category status to Odisha.

He also criticised the Centre for not listening to the demand of the state.

“Special category status to Odisha was in the 2014 poll manifesto of BJP. However, the party forgot its promise after coming to power,” he said while addressing during the Jana Sampark Padayatra of the party in Laxmisagar area of the Capital city.

“When the BJD and BJP were in the alliance from 2000 to 2009, we had combinedly fought for the special category status to the state. But after splitting the alliance in 2009, we had been fighting for it all alone,” said the Chief Minister.

He said the party will continue to fight for the special category status to Odisha.

“The people of the state will give a befitting reply to the BJP in the upcoming 2019 elections,” Patnaik added.