BJD: BJD signals shift, to act as strong opposition in Rajya Sabha | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: Signalling a departure from BJD’s perceived leniency towards the ruling BJP at the Centre, party president and former chief minister Naveen Patnaik urged his party’s Rajya Sabha members to act as a strong opposition in Parliament and firmly raise matters pertaining to Odisha’s interests.
Addressing a meeting of BJD’s parliamentary party ahead of the Rajya Sabha session, scheduled from June 27, Naveen asked the MPs to “be the voice of 4.5 crore people of Odisha in Parliament”.“We will be a very strong and vibrant opposition and will make the Centre accountable on all issues,” Naveen told his MPs. Adopting a more assertive approach, the party seeks to challenge the notion of being pliant towards the central govt, led by the BJP.
Naveen said BJD MPs will raise all issues pertaining to the state’s development and the welfare of the people of Odisha. “Many just and rightful demands of Odisha haven’t been met. We must ensure that those demands are met in right earnest by the Centre,” a BJD statement quoted Naveen as saying in the meeting.
BJD has decided to pursue its long-standing demand of special category status for Odisha, which the party has been advocating for many years. The party would also take up poor condition of National Highways in Odisha, along with alleged delays in projects and inadequate maintenance. The party will demand the completion of all incomplete NH works, including the Cuttack-Sambalpur highway, proposed Coastal Highway, and the Odisha Capital Region Ring Road near Bhubaneswar.
In Parliament, BJD will also seek provision of at least 20 lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), which has been on hold for the past 10 years. Additionally, the party will seek the establishment of Kendriya Vidyalayas and Eklavya Schools in each block in Odisha, particularly in scheduled areas and blocks with tribal population. In terms of healthcare, BJD will demand the establishment of AIIMS in Sambalpur, Koraput, and Balasore to cater to the needs of the north, western, and southern regions of Odisha, the BJD statement said.
Regarding employment issues, the BJD intends to demand the setting up of an IT park, semiconductor park, MSME park, textile park, and industrial corridors in Odisha. For tribal development, the party plans to seek the inclusion of 162 communities in the ST list, which has been pending with the Centre, and the inclusion of Ho, Mundari, Bhumij, Saora and Kui languages in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution, the statement added.
BJD will also call for the withdrawal of the 18% GST on Kendu leaf, which affects nearly 10 lakh workers in the state, 90% of whom are women and tribals. The Naveen-led party will demand timely and just payments of Fasal Bima to farmers in Odisha, who have been suffering due to delayed payments caused by the alleged Centre’s neglect and profiteering by insurance companies.
The party will also demand the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations for fixing minimum support price (MSP) of paddy. The BJP, in its manifesto had promised to buy paddy at Rs 3,100, but is yet to implement the same. Additionally, the BJD will demand ensuring the availability of fertilizers for farmers and improving connectivity to all districts by railways.
Other demands include establishing brick and mortar banks in each gram panchayat of Odisha for ensuring financial inclusion, ensuring 100% coverage of mobile and digital connectivity across all panchayats, increasing coal royalty for Odisha, approving all pending irrigation projects including Mahanadi projects in the state, including adding Ahimsa in the Preamble of the Constitution as proposed by Naveen, and implementing 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state legislative assemblies.
Addressing a meeting of BJD’s parliamentary party ahead of the Rajya Sabha session, scheduled from June 27, Naveen asked the MPs to “be the voice of 4.5 crore people of Odisha in Parliament”.“We will be a very strong and vibrant opposition and will make the Centre accountable on all issues,” Naveen told his MPs. Adopting a more assertive approach, the party seeks to challenge the notion of being pliant towards the central govt, led by the BJP.
Naveen said BJD MPs will raise all issues pertaining to the state’s development and the welfare of the people of Odisha. “Many just and rightful demands of Odisha haven’t been met. We must ensure that those demands are met in right earnest by the Centre,” a BJD statement quoted Naveen as saying in the meeting.
BJD has decided to pursue its long-standing demand of special category status for Odisha, which the party has been advocating for many years. The party would also take up poor condition of National Highways in Odisha, along with alleged delays in projects and inadequate maintenance. The party will demand the completion of all incomplete NH works, including the Cuttack-Sambalpur highway, proposed Coastal Highway, and the Odisha Capital Region Ring Road near Bhubaneswar.
In Parliament, BJD will also seek provision of at least 20 lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), which has been on hold for the past 10 years. Additionally, the party will seek the establishment of Kendriya Vidyalayas and Eklavya Schools in each block in Odisha, particularly in scheduled areas and blocks with tribal population. In terms of healthcare, BJD will demand the establishment of AIIMS in Sambalpur, Koraput, and Balasore to cater to the needs of the north, western, and southern regions of Odisha, the BJD statement said.
Regarding employment issues, the BJD intends to demand the setting up of an IT park, semiconductor park, MSME park, textile park, and industrial corridors in Odisha. For tribal development, the party plans to seek the inclusion of 162 communities in the ST list, which has been pending with the Centre, and the inclusion of Ho, Mundari, Bhumij, Saora and Kui languages in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution, the statement added.
BJD will also call for the withdrawal of the 18% GST on Kendu leaf, which affects nearly 10 lakh workers in the state, 90% of whom are women and tribals. The Naveen-led party will demand timely and just payments of Fasal Bima to farmers in Odisha, who have been suffering due to delayed payments caused by the alleged Centre’s neglect and profiteering by insurance companies.
The party will also demand the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations for fixing minimum support price (MSP) of paddy. The BJP, in its manifesto had promised to buy paddy at Rs 3,100, but is yet to implement the same. Additionally, the BJD will demand ensuring the availability of fertilizers for farmers and improving connectivity to all districts by railways.
Other demands include establishing brick and mortar banks in each gram panchayat of Odisha for ensuring financial inclusion, ensuring 100% coverage of mobile and digital connectivity across all panchayats, increasing coal royalty for Odisha, approving all pending irrigation projects including Mahanadi projects in the state, including adding Ahimsa in the Preamble of the Constitution as proposed by Naveen, and implementing 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state legislative assemblies.
