Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: The Parliamentary Party of Biju Janata Dal (BJDPP) which met at Naveen Niwas here Sunday deliberated on a host of issues including repair and renovation of Srimandir, pending Phailin relief and drought aid to be ventilated during the budget session of Parliament beginning February 23.
“I discussed with party MPs issues they need to raise in Parliament. They have been asked to pursue completion of timely repair and restoration of Jagannath temple in Puri by the Archaeological Survey of India and the concerned ministries, release of dues pending towards drought of 2015 and cyclone Phailin of 2013,” said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik while interacting with newsmen.
The party MPs would also seek release of Central share towards completion of five new medical colleges and press for modification of existing rice and wheat allotment ratio to suit the needs of National Food Security Act (NFSA) beneficiaries, Patnaik said after the meeting.
Stating that Orissa has been historically neglected, BJD parliamentary party spokesperson and Bolangir MP Kalikesh Narayan Singhdeo said grant of special package and special category state status would enable Orissa to overcome difficulties and move on the path of development.
Singhdeo said that his party will also support Goods and Service Tax (GST) bill with certain amendments.
On JNU row Singhdeo said, “We will participate in the debate on the issue in the Parliament and will ask the JNU incident to be acted upon as per law.” He, however, said BJD condemns the manner in which the Delhi Police arrested the students from university campus and role of police during the Patiala court incident.
Other major issues to be raked up during the budget session include the Polavaram row which the state government has termed as an anti-Orissa project, introduction of rail services to seven districts in the state having no rail connection, timely completion of Khurda-Bolangir railway line, the loss state incurred after change in Centre-state funding pattern and delinking of major schemes from Central funding among others.
