BJD to raise PMAY, Women Reservation Bill issues in Parliament

By Ratikanta Mohanty

BHUBANESWAR, JAN. 28: Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik on Saturday interacted with party’s Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members and advised them raise issues concerning the interests of the state very effectively in the forthcoming budget session of the Parliament.

The CM, who chaired the BJD Parliamentary party meeting held in Naveen Niwas, discussed the strategy of the party for the budget session, scheduled to commence on January 31.

“Today, we discussed the party’s strategy and agenda for the ensuing budget session. The CM advised us to raise some specific issues to protest the interest of the people. We will raise the issue on how Odisha has been deprived of nearly four lakh Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). This is a great injustice meted out to the state. Besides, we will put forth some other demands which are being chalked out by the party. We will also raise the issue of passing the Women’s Reservation Bill,” said Pinaki Mishra, BJD Lok Sabha member from Puri.

Sources said the BJD is most likely to raise key issues like the demand for special category state status to Odisha and inclusion of 169 communities as scheduled tribes.

The regional party parliamentarians are also likely to press for special assistance for permanent solution of the natural calamities, inclusion of non-violence in the preamble of the Constitution and issues related to farmers welfare and agriculture.

Parliament’s budget session is slated to begin from January 31 and conclude on April 6, 2023. There will be a total of 27 sittings, spread over 66 days and have the usual recess.  The Union Budget 2023-24 will be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1, they added.