Odisha PRIs, ULBs to pass resolution for special category status

Bhubaneswar: Intensifying its campaign for special category state status for Odisha, ruling BJD today appealed all the panchayati raj institutions (PRIs) and urban local bodies to pass resolutions supporting the demand.

"We appeal all PRIs and ULBs and all sections of the people to support the demand of special category state status for Odisha," BJD vice-president and panchayati raj minister Kalpataru Das told reporters.

While the state Assembly had already passed an unanimous resolution supporting the special category state status for Odisha, the ruling party wanted similar resolutions be made in the grass root levels.

The party would hand over memorandums with signature of about 1 crore people supporting the demand to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on June 9, said BJD general secretary and agriculture minister Debi Prasad Mishra.

This apart, BJD youth wing president Sanjay Dasburma said massive human chains would be held at prominent places of the state on June 7, marking culmination of the party's signature campaign.

Das said there would be special meetings and candle light processions in every gram panchayats to make people aware about BJD's demand on May 31, while ULBs will organise such programme on June 1.

Different panchayat samities will hold special meetings and candle light processions at block headquarters on June 3.