Congress backs Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik's demand to declare Odisha as 'focus state'

 Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s demand before Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare Odisha as a ‘focus State’ and provide special grants pending consideration of special category status was backed by the Congress while BJP termed it as another drama of the ruling BJD
“I welcome the demand made by the CM for special focus State to Odisha which has been ignored by successive Governments at the Centre. The State, being a victim of natural calamities, deserves special attention of the Centre,” said senior Congress leader and former minister Narasingh Mishra.
The Odisha Legislative Assembly had unanimously adopted a resolution on 4 April, 2013 requesting the Centre to award special category status to the State.
It had urged the Centre to provide additional grants and fiscal incentives for the State’s development, he said.
This was the second time the Assembly adopted a unanimous resolution seeking special category status. The first such resolution was passed on November 18, 1997. “We (Congress) were party to that resolution.
The BJP, which is opposing the demand now, had supported the motion,” Mishra said.
The Congress leader, however, criticised the CM for not raising the issue when he was a Central Minister during NDA regime at the Centre.
“Naveen Babu was a minister in the NDA Government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. When he became Chief Minister, the BJD was a coalition partner of BJP. The CM should clarify as to why he did not raise this demand at that time,” Mishra said.

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