Will Odisha CM Raise HC Bench, Coal Royalty Issues During PM Visit Tomorrow? Asks BJD

Bhubaneswar: Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday intensified its attack on Odisha’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government over establishment of High Court bench in western region and revision of coal royalty.

Addressing a press meet in Bhubaneswar, BJD leader and Rajya Sabha member Sasmit Patra accused Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi of being under pressure from his own party leaders and elected representatives.

Stating that the Chief Minister made a U-turn on the issue of the establishment of a permanent bench of the High Court during the recent Assembly session, he said Majhi should write to the Centre on the issue instead of being under pressure.

Patra said he had raised the issue of High Court bench two days ago but the state government is yet to respond.

The BJD MP also came down heavily on the BJP government over the issue of coal royalty and said royalty has not been revised for the last 12 years, causing huge loss to the state.

Claiming that Odisha has lost over Rs 10,000 crore because of non-revision of coal royalty, he asked the Chief Minister to write to the Centre seeking immediate steps for revision of coal royalty.

Noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to visit Bhubaneswar on Tuesday to launch Subhadra Yojana, Patra said the Chief Minister should take up the issues of High Court bench and revision of coal royalty with the PM.

The BJD leader sought to know whether the Chief Minister is ready to muster courage and take up these two important issues with the Prime Minister during his visit to Bhubaneswar. “The CM should make it clear whether his government is in favour of establishment of a permanent bench of the High Court and revision of coal royalty,” he added.