Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) today said it is eagerly waiting for the good news including hike in coal royalty to be shared by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and two Deputy CMs after meeting top leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their New Delhi visit.
The Chief Minister and two Deputy Chief Ministers K V Singh Deo and Pravati Parida are on their first official visit to New Delhi since Wednesday night. During their visit they met several Union Ministers including Amit Shah and Nirmala Sitharaman and held discussions related to State’s issues.
The CM and two DCMs are likely to return to Odisha today. Before visiting Delhi, they had stated that they will hold discussions to make Odisha a developed State, said BJD Lawmaker Prasanna Acharya here today.
“The people of Odisha are eagerly waiting to know what discussion they held with the President, PM and other Central leaders and what commitment they got from the top leaders,” Shri Acharya told media persons.
To make Odisha a developed State, the economy needs to be strengthened. During the last 24 years of the BJD Government, the State’s economy had also witnessed an upward surge, he pointed out.
“As double engine Srakar of BJP has been formed in Odisha and Delhi, we hope that the Central Government in guidance of the State will accept all proposals to make Odisha a developed State,” the BJD MLA said.
Raising the coal royalty issue, the BJD leader said, the State has been demanding for hike in coal royalty, which was not revised since 2013. So, there is a hope that the Centre will now enhance the royalty so that the State can earn more funds from coal being explored in the State, he added.
Further, Shri Acharya said political leaders irrespective of party line including BJP have been demanding for Special Category Status for the State, but the Centre had ignored it.
“We hope that Special Category Status will be allotted to Odisha to accelerate the pace of developmental works,” the former Minister stated.
He said the BJD has been extending issue-based support or opposing some in other issues to the Central Government. Accordingly, the party had protested against the NEET irregularities as the future of lakhs of students have been put in the dark.
On appointment of Manoj Ahuja as new Chief Secretary, he said it is the prerogative of the State Government. However, he said, the BJD will be proud if Odia Asmita will be taken to new heights by the BJP Government.