Bhubaneswar: The Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) led by former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has termed the Union Budget for 2024-25 as anti-Odisha budget as there is nothing for the State.
All the BJD MPs in Rajya Sabha walked out of the Rajya Sabha today when the Union Budget was being laid, strongly protesting the continued neglect of Odisha in the Union Budget, senior BJD MP and National Spokesperson Dr Sasmit Patra informed on X.
“Before walking out, the BJD MPs strongly said in the House that they are walking out due to denial of Special Category State status to Odisha. While Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar had been asking for Special Category, the two states got Special additional funds while Odisha’s demand was not considered,” he said.
Probably this is the punishment meted out to Odisha for electing 20 Lok Sabha BJP MPs out of 21 MPs from Odisha and the reward to the BJP allies from Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, the BJD leader said.
Speaking to media persons outside the Parliament in New Delhi, Dr Patra said, “We found that the demands of Odisha have not been met. We have been demanding for Special Category State status. The same has not been given to Odisha. On the other hand, we found that funds have been given to Andhra Pradesh and Bihar.”
Similarly, Odisha has been demanding for funds as well as SCS. But the Centre has completely neglected the State, he said.
“We term the Budget, completely anti-Odisha and there is nothing for Odisha in this Budget,” Dr Patra added.
Similarly, former OPCC President Niranjan Patnaik too said there is no fund allocated for Odisha in the Union Budget 2024.
“Despite electing 20 BJP MPs and creating a “Double Engine Sarkar,” the Modi government has ignored Odisha. Modiji boasted that Odisha would be the number one state, but with no allocations, how will our future be shaped? Disappointed!,” he wrote on X.
While presenting the Union Budget in Parliament, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, only twice mentioned Odisha.
“Odisha’s scenic beauty, temples, monuments, craftsmanship, natural landscape, wildlife sanctuaries, and pristine beaches make it an ultimate tourism destination. The Centre will provide assistance for their development in Odisha as well,” said Sitharaman.
In her budget speech, the Finance Minister announced that a plan ‘Purvodaya’ will be formulated for the all-round development of the eastern region of the country, covering Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh.
“The states in the eastern part of the country are rich in endowments and have strong cultural traditions. We will formulate a plan for Purvodaya for the all round development of the eastern region of the country,” she said.