Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], BJD vice-president and senior MLA Prasanna Acharya on Saturday urged Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to prioritize two key issues pertaining to Odisha: boosting the long-standing demand for special category status and seeking a review of coal royalty rates.
"Odisha CM and two deputy CMs went to Delhi. They are meeting Prime Minister, President of India and other Union ministers. But they should raise our demands. CM Mohan Majhi should raise royalty review of coal and special category status issues. Odisha has a long demand for special category status," Acharya told ANI.
Acharya further took aim at the BJP for what he described as a break with tradition. He questioned the recent appointment of a non-Odia chief secretary and asked, "Is this the pride of Odisha?"
"The appointment of chief secretary is the prerogative of the government. But BJP says pride of Odisha. Is this the pride of Odisha (appointment of CS not hating)? BJP made the deviation. BJP broke the tradition of CS appointment," he said Acharya.
Earlier in the day, Majhi and deputy chief ministers Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida met external affairs minister S Jaishankar in the national capital on Saturday.
After the meeting, Jaishankar took to social media platform this morning. I congratulated them on the assumption of such an important responsibility."
He further said that the Odisha government has been assured that the Ministry of External Affairs will work closely with them to promote tourism.
"We are confident that your government will take Odisha to a higher trajectory of growth and prosperity. I assured that MEA will work closely with the Odisha government to promote tourism, establish international linkages and access a global workplace. I wished them a mandate successful," Jaishanker tweeted.
Meanwhile, Majhi and his two deputies Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida also met Union minister and BJP president JP Nadda in the national capital.
On Friday, the three visited Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"Odisha CM and two deputy CMs went to Delhi. They are meeting Prime Minister, President of India and other Union ministers. But they should raise our demands. CM Mohan Majhi should raise royalty review of coal and special category status issues. Odisha has a long demand for special category status," Acharya told ANI.
Acharya further took aim at the BJP for what he described as a break with tradition. He questioned the recent appointment of a non-Odia chief secretary and asked, "Is this the pride of Odisha?"
"The appointment of chief secretary is the prerogative of the government. But BJP says pride of Odisha. Is this the pride of Odisha (appointment of CS not hating)? BJP made the deviation. BJP broke the tradition of CS appointment," he said Acharya.
Earlier in the day, Majhi and deputy chief ministers Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida met external affairs minister S Jaishankar in the national capital on Saturday.
After the meeting, Jaishankar took to social media platform this morning. I congratulated them on the assumption of such an important responsibility."
He further said that the Odisha government has been assured that the Ministry of External Affairs will work closely with them to promote tourism.
"We are confident that your government will take Odisha to a higher trajectory of growth and prosperity. I assured that MEA will work closely with the Odisha government to promote tourism, establish international linkages and access a global workplace. I wished them a mandate successful," Jaishanker tweeted.
Meanwhile, Majhi and his two deputies Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida also met Union minister and BJP president JP Nadda in the national capital.
On Friday, the three visited Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
