BHUBANESWAR,March 13: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) will have issue-based participation in the Bharatiya Janata Party led government at the Centre. This decision was officially conveyed to Atal Behari Vajpayee at New Delhi on Tuesday last in an hour-long discussion attended by BJD chief Naveen Patnaik, Rajya Sabha MP Dilip Ray and Chairman of BJD political affairs committee Bijay Mohapatra at the BJP leader's residence.
The BJD leaders have also pressed for four ministerial berths and the dismissal of J B Patnaik government in the state.
Talking to media persons here, Bijay Mohaptra said that all their demands before Vajpayee were fair and in the interest of the state. ``If Shiromani Akali Dal can demand three berths in the ministry with eight MPs, why can't we ask for four?'' he reasoned. BJD has won 9 seats.
He said Vajpayee appeared to have been convinced with the BJD argument on according special attention to Orissa under the new dispensation. Special attention to Orissa has been demanded in the spheresof development of railways, mines, more central funds to meet the damages due to natural calamities and awards of finance commissions.
Vajpayee, he said, assured that Orissa shall not be neglected any longer and would get its due share.
The Biju Janata Dal leader's view on adequate central funds to backward states for poverty alleviation was well received and the same may find place in the saffron combine's national agenda.
They also demanded that a coordination committee with representatives from allied partners be formed to guide the government for better functioning.
Similar coordination committees,they suggested, be formed at state level to avoid clash of interests, Mohapatra informed.
The Biju Janata Dal announced a seminar within a fortnight to assess the economic condition of the state with special focus on how continuous neglect by the centre has added to the state's backwardness. The outcome of the discussion would be compiled and submitted to the new government for action.
Also, theparty decided that a state-level meet would be held here on April 17 on the occasion of the first death anniversary of late Biju Patnaik to be addressed by Atal Behari Vajpayee.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
