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Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Sasmit Patra on Thursday accused the central government of "neglecting" Odisha in the 2025 Union Budget presented by the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
"I stand here today not just as a representative of Odisha but as the voice of a state that has been abandoned by this Union Budget! This is not just neglect - this is an affront to four and a half crore people of Odisha," Patra said while speaking in Rajya Sabha. The BJD MP further questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the centre over its unfinished promise to grant a special category to Odisha. Patra said that the BJD and former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had demanded special category status for the state over the past two decades, but it hasn't been fulfilled even in this budget. "Let me remind this House, the Odisha BJP, in its 2014 election manifesto promised special category status for Odisha. Eleven years later, where is that promise? Where is that status? Where is the justice?" Patra asked, adding, "The Biju Janata Dal and our leader, Naveen Patnaik, have been constantly demanding special category status for Odisha over the past two decades. The four and a half crore people of Odisha are hopeful that the state will be provided special category status but it hasn't happened so far in this budget." Accusing the central government of not "recognising Odisha's pain", the BJD MP said that despite being the economic backbone of the country the government turns its back when the state asks for its fair share. "Odisha is the economic backbone of this nation--our coal, our iron ore, our minerals fuel India's progress--yet when Odisha asks for its fair share, this government turns its back. We suffer cyclones and natural disasters--year after year--yet Delhi refuses to recognise our pain," Patra said. "This Budget showers favours on some, ignores others, and treats Odisha like an afterthought. Is Odisha only good enough to extract mines, minerals, coal and wealth from, but not worthy of support for special category state status?" he added. Highlighting natural disasters suffered by Odisha, the BJD MP asked the government to extend support, which the state deserves. "Odisha's resilience must be rewarded, not overlooked. If we expect our state to rebuild after every catastrophe while continuing to fuel India's growth, then we must ensure it receives the support it deserves. The Government must not turn its back on Odisha. This is the moment for decisive action. Please provide special category state status to Odisha," Patra said. (ANI)
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