Budget Session: BJD to Demand Caste-based Census, Formation of Legislative Council in Parliament

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s ruling Biju Janata Dal will raise the demand for a caste-based census along with the census 2021 and formation of legislative council in the State during the upcoming Budget session of the Parliament.

It has been decided at the BJD Parliamentary Party members’ meet held at Naveen Niwas here on Tuesday, sources said.

Meanwhile speaking to media after the meeting, Member of Parliament from Puri Constituency, Pinaki Mishra said, “The BJD will raise the demand for formation of a Legislative Council in the State, besides demanding other issues related to the development of Odisha during Budget Session of Parliament.

BJD has also decided to raise the issues like GST compensation too.

When asked about Railways, Mishra said, “Unlike previous years, we hope the Centre would focus on the development of Rail network in the State and allocate budget accordingly.”

BJD President and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has reviewed the performance of party MPs in previous parliamentary session and urged low performing MPs to improve in their performance in upcoming Budget session.

The ruling party has also decided to demand the Centre to delete 13(2) column in the NPR format.
Apart from this, the BJD MPs are expected to raise long pending issues such as coal royalty revision, hike in railway allocation, solution of interstate water disputes among others in the ensuing Budget session, which will begin from January 31.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the annual Budget February 1.