By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR: Biju Janata Dal MP Dr. Sasmit Patra on Thursday spoke in Rajya Sabha on Union Budget 2025.
‘I stand here today not just as a representative of Odisha, but as the voice of a state that has been abandoned by this Union Budget! This is not just neglect—this is an affront to four and half crore people of Odisha!Let me remind this House, the Odisha BJP in its 2014 election manifesto’s promised Special Category Status for Odisha. Eleven years later, where is that promise? Where is that status? Where is the justice? , Dr Patra said.
The Biju Janata Dal and our leader Shri. Naveen Patnaik ji have been constantly demanding Special Category Status for Odisha over the past two decades. The four and a half crore people of Odisha are hopeful that the state will be provided Special Category Status but it hasn’t happened so far in this Budget.
Odisha is the economic backbone of this nation—our coal, our iron ore, our minerals fuel India’s progress—yet when Odisha asks for its fair share, this government turns its back! We suffer cyclones and natural disasters—year after year—yet Delhi refuses to recognize our pain!
‘This Budget showers favors on some, ignores others, and treats Odisha like an afterthought! Is Odisha only good enough to extract mines, minerals, coal and wealth from, but not worthy of support for special category state status?,
‘Odisha’s resilience must be rewarded, not overlooked. If we expect our state to rebuild after every catastrophe, while continuing to fuel India’s growth, then we must ensure it receives the support it deserves,’ MP said.
He added that the Government must not turn its back on Odisha. This is the moment for decisive action. Please provide Special Category State Status to Odisha.
