Naveen Rakes Up Special Category Status To Odisha, Dubs Centre An ‘Empty Vessel’

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday dubbed the Centre an ‘empty vessel’ for its failure to keep up with its promise to accord special category status to Odisha.

“The BJP in its election manifesto in 2014 had promised that it would accord special category status to Odisha if it comes to power at the Centre. The people of Odisha till date are waiting for the fulfillment of the assurance of the BJP government which has not taken any step in this regard. This BJP government is like an empty vessel which make a lot of noise. The people of my state know very well who has fulfilled the promise. The promises that my government made to the people have been fulfilled,” the Chief Minister said while kicking off the BJD Jana Samparka Padayatra at the Jharana Sahi near Sishu Bhawan Square in the Odisha capital on the occasion of the 150^th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Talking about the state government’s own food security programme, Naveen said the state government was forced to implement its own food security programme as deserving beneficiaries were left out under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).

During the Jana Samparka Padayatra, which will continue across the state for a month, the BJD workers and leaders would reach out to the people and apprise them of the implementation of several welfare programmes of the state government like Ama Gaon Ama Bikash, Ama Sahara Ama Unnati, Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana, the state’s own Food Security scheme, Mission Shakti, provision of loan @ 1 per cent for women, farmers and students, formation of Special Development Council for the Scheduled Tribe community and land ownership rights to the urban slum dwellers.