Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, July 19, 2015 : The ruling Biju Janata Dal [BJD] in Odisha is all out to fight for the state’s interest. This is what transpired in the meeting of party member of Parliaments held here on Sunday chaired by party president Naveen Patnaik.

During the ensuing Monsoon session of the Parliament beginning tomorrow, the party made it very clear that it will not only focus on issues dear to the State’s interest. It will support any party that aided state’s cause by piloting such issues in both houses.

The major issues that cropped during the discussion are Posco’s recent utterances about putting its Odisha project under suspended animation the controversial Land Bill and State’s loss due to fund devolution following implementation of recommendations of the Fourteenth Finance Commission.

The party’s leader of the party in Lok Sabha Bhartruhari Mahtab said the stand of the party is that it will support the move of the Centre that takes steps in the interest of the State. “We will raise the Posco issue and have already given a notice in this regard,” he said adding, “Issues such as Land Bill and fund cut to several development schemes will too be raised by the Party.”

BJD MP from Kendrapada Baijayant Panda hinted that his party would stick to its stated position to introduce the amendment ensuring land losers to be stake holders in the projects that come up on their land after acquisition. “We will also demand the deficit Rs 2100 crore from the Centre though an impression has been created that the State will get over Rs 5000 crore more due to the implementation of the 14th Finance Commission”, he added.

Panda said his party would raise its voice for the welfare of the people of the State.

Out of a total of 20 Lok Sabha MPs and seven Rajya Sabha members, four – Kalpataru Das, Sarojini Hembram, Anubhav Mohanty and Sidhant Mohapatra—were absent in the Naveen Niwas meeting this morning while Rajya Sabha MP Baishnab Parida left for Bhasa Sammilani engagement after taking permission of the Chief Minister, said sources.

Parida denied reports by a section of media that he was snubbed by party supremo Naveen Patnaik moments before the crucial meeting of the party MPs started at Naveen Niwas this morning.

“Neither Naveen Patnaik has snubbed me nor I left the meeting in a huff”, said Parida while reacting to media reports that he was denied a seat inside the meeting room. Accepting my request, Naveen babu called me and discussed with me for more than a good fifteen minutes the strategy to be adopted by the party in the Monsoon session of the Parliament beginning tomorrow, said Parida who sought permission from the party chief to attend the State Council meeting of the Odia Bhasha Sangram Samiti taking place at the same time.

Media should not allow misinformation to spread, Parida remarked.

Notably, the ruling party recently had communicated to the NITI Aayog its suggestion to provide shares to those from whom land is acquired for setting up new industries. This is meant to address tensions in areas, especially tribal dominated ones, when the land of farmers is acquired for new industrial ventures.

According to official sources, the rule, if the bill is passed, will be incorporated as a new clause in section 31 of the proposed Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill, 2015.

Additional Secretary, department of Revenue and Disaster Management, J Lakra recently wrote to NITI Aayog Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sindhushree Khullar on July 14 informing the views of the State government regarding inclusion of locals and gram panchayats in newly set-up industries.
BJD’s Manifesto for the 2014 elections states that in addition to what has been provided in the Land Acquisition Act, the State government will make it mandatory for industries to provide shares to gram panchayats and people from whom land is acquired and make them shareholders in the projects to as to ensure continuous income for the gram panchayats and people.

Although none of the leaders spoke anything about it, the contentious issue of Polavaram river water project in Andhra Pradesh too is likely to be raised by BJD MPs in this session.