Odisha does not fulfil special state criteria: Minister Usha Devi

Bhubaneswar: Despite Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's reiteration that the Odisha government will continue to demand Special Category State (SCS) status, Planning and Convergence Minister Usha Devi today said Odisha does not meet two parameters required for special state status.

Replying to a query from Congress legislator Kailash Chandra Kulesika, the minister informed the State Assembly that out of the five parameters for classification as a special category state, Odisha does not meet two parameters.

Neither Odisha is bordering strategically with any foreign country nor its economy has become stagnant, said the minister.

Meanwhile, Congress alleged that the Odisha government is just pretending even though it is aware that it does not meet the criteria.

“The State government is acting. The minister today said that on two parameters Odisha does not meet the special category status criteria. When the government knows Odisha cannot get special category status, why it is blaming the government at the Centre, be it UPA or NDA” stated Tara Prasad Bahinipati, Opposition chief whip.

Few days back, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said, “We have always demanded special category status for Odisha and are doing so again.”

During a meeting with NITI Aayog vice chairman Rajiv Kumar at the State Secretariat in Bhubaneswar, the Chief Minister had reiterated the State’s demand for the SCS tag.