BJP backtracking from its promise for special category status for Odisha, says BJD MP Sasmit Patra

Patra accused the BJP of "backtracking" on its promise and said it is not being fulfilled even as there is a "double-engine" government.

Speaking with ANI after an all-party meeting held ahead of Parliament's budget session, the BJD MP said his party will also raise issues of price rise and unemployment.

He said BJD chief Naveen Patnaik had asked the parliamentary party members to strongly take up the demand for special category status for Odisha.

"This has been a longstanding demand for the last two decades. BJD, people of Odisha and Naveen Patnaikji have been demanding it. BJP in its 2014 election manifesto had specified that they will ensure special category status for Odisha. Today, they are in power in Delhi (at Centre) and in Odisha, why is the special category status not coming? BJD will very strongly demand special category status for the state of Odisha....Today, the question arises as to why is the BJP backtracking from that commitment," he said.

He also said that the party will raise issues concerning farmers.

"They are in distress. Patnaikji had met farmers who suffered losses due to unseasonal rains," Patra said.

BJP came to power in Odisha last year after ousting the BJD government led by Naveen Patnaik.

An all-party meeting was held at the Parliament Annexe building in New Delhi ahead of the Budget session of Parliament which commences on Friday.

Leaders from different political parties, including Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, K Suresh and Gaurav Gogoi and TMC's Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Derek O'Brien attended the meeting.

RSP's NK Premachandran DMK's TR Baalu, Samajwadi Party's Ram Gopal Yadav, and JMM's Mahua Maji were among those present.

President Droupadi Murmu will address the joint sitting of both houses of Parliament on January 31.

The union budget will be presented on February 1.

(ANI)