BHUBANESWAR: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik will launch the ten-day Jana Sampark Padayatra of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) from the capital city tomorrow. This was announced here today at a media conference by Rajya Sabha MP and spokesperson Prasanna Acharya, vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra and spokesperson Prashant Nanda.
The padayatra will be launched from Mahisakhal Behera Sahi in the Ekamra assembly constituency by the chief minister. BJD workers in all the urban local bodies and villages will be involved in the 10-day long annual Padayatra across the state from October 2.
The yatra will conclude on October 11 coinciding with the birth anniversary of Jayaprakash Narayan. The BJD leaders said the party will raise the issue of Centre's neglect and Odisha's demand for special category state status during the padayatra.
The BJD leaders said the objective of the programme is to create awareness among the people and inform them about the injustice being meted out to Odisha by the BJD led NDA government at the Centre. Tacit support extended by Centre to Chhattisgarh on Mahanadi river water dispute,
Centre's double speak over Polavaram dam issue and abnormal hike in the prices of petrol and diesel will be raised by the party during the padayatra. Besides, achievements of the state government during last 17 years will also highlighted during the march, the BJD leaders said and added that party workers will also clarify on different issues including the campaign launched by the BJP against the BJD.
Another major campaign issue will be to highlight budget cut resorted to by the Centre from different welfare programmes, they said and added implementation of welfare schemes benefiting the poor have been affected because of the slashing of allocation. This apart, the BJD leaders said, the party would also demand a hike in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of paddy in the state, resolution to Polavaram issue and cut in fuel prices during the event.