The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has decided to intensify its agitation against the Centre on Special Category State (SCS) status. It would form human chains across the State on August 27.
Announcing this here on Sunday, Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BYJD) president and government deputy chief whip Sanjay Dasburma said the silent protest will be held between 10.30 am and 11.10 am at all the district headquarters of the State.
He criticised the Centre for announcing the rejection of Odisha’s SCS demand repeatedly even though Raghuraman Rajan Committee has been set up to take a fresh look at the criteria.
Dasburma said the demand for SCS status for Odisha has been raised in different fora since 1979. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has also written several letters to the Prime Minister and other Union ministers in this regard since 2000.
Besides, the Assembly had also passed a unanimous resolution reiterating the demand of the State, he said and described the statement of Union Minister for Planning Rajiv Shukla that Odisha does not qualify for SCS status under the existing criteria as unfortunate.
The BJD submitted a memorandum with one crore signatures to President Pranab Mukherjee demanding SCS status for Odisha and had organised a rally at Ramlila Grounds in New Delhi to press for it.
BYJD spokesman Bijay Nayak, vice-president Kishore Tarai and other BYJD leaders were present.