Ahead of the Budget Session 2020, BJD Supremo and Odisha’s CM Naveen Patnaik held a meeting yesterday at “Naveen Niwas” with all the members to draw a solid plan of action. Post the meeting, Pinaki Mishra who is BJD’s current spokesperson spoke to the media and explained their strategies for the budget session.
Mentioned below are the strategies laid by the ruling party:
To demand the enumeration of OBCs like SCs & STs in the 2021 census: The party will demand the inclusion of a separate column for the OBC in the register of the 2021 census which was ignored in the 2011 census. This remains one of the most vital issues as OBCs occupy a considerable population in Odisha
To object to the notion of the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Naveen Patnaik had called in a press conference to announce that his party MPs, in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, will not support the NRC. Keeping their promise, the party has decided to completely oppose the NRC.
To accept NPR but with amendments. The party will object to the inclusion of Column 13(2) of NPR form which seeks information on the place of birth of an individual’s parents. The party will ensure that the people of Odisha don’t follow this norm. If these conditions are accepted, only then will BJD support NPR.
To demand more allocation of funds to the state in the Railway sector. The MPs will also raise the issue of pending railway projects and press for their completion. The Odisha government has claimed to have taken ‘revolutionary’ steps including providing land and sharing 50 percent cost of railway projects which no other state has done. Demand for sufficient funds will be put forth in the railway budget.
To seek a solution to the issue of Polavaram and Mahanadi. The Chhattisgarh government has started setting up projects on the Mahanadi basin. In return, the Odisha government had earlier opposed any move concerning upper-catchment projects in Mahanadi Basin without consulting the state. This issue would further be discussed and debated in the upcoming session.
Furthermore, the Odisha government will demand compensation to the state in the GST loss and raise the issue of hike in coal royalty & clean energy cess.
Notably, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the annual Union Budget on February 1.