Koraput: A week after the formation of the Dandakaranya Parbatamala Bikash Parishad, the demand to accord separate Dandakaranya Union Territory/state status has intensified with the members of the Parishad taking a pledge at the first general body meeting on Sunday.
Addressing the meeting, the founder of the Parishad and BJP leader Jayaram Pangi said that the demand for separate Dandakaranya Union Territory/state status was raised during the tenure of Biju Patnaik. The time has come to intensify the demand to fulfill the aspirations of the tribals living in the border areas of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh who have been neglected for generations.
Present in the meeting, former Union Minister and MP of Kanker in Chhattisgarh Arvind Netam said despite his decade-long career in politics, he had failed to take up the major issues of the tribals. Now, with the formation of the Dandakaranya Parbatamala Bikash Parishad, he will wage a relentless fight to accord either the Union Territory or state status to Dandakarayna where the tribals will take charge of its governance.
In his address, former MLA of Araku Valley in Andhra Pradesh, Shetty Gangadhar Swami said that the growing discontentment of the tribals of Koraput district will ignite the tribals of Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. “We will not remain silent and continue our efforts for the Union Territory or state status to Dandakaranya till our demands are met,” he pointed out.
Pangi not to quit BJP
The former Koraput MP, who had earlier hinted at quitting the BJP, later told the media that he will continue to remain in the saffron party.
However, he said that he will not hold any party post. “I will remain as a common worker of the BJP and work for my party.”
During a press briefing on October 5, Pangi had told the media that as it is very difficult for a person to shoulder two major responsibilities at a time, he will have to quit the BJP to give full time to the Dandakaranya Parbatamala Bikash Parishad.
Also Read: Odisha’s Former MP Jayaram Pangi To Quit BJP, Fight For UT Status To Dandakaranya
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