Bhubaneswar: Amidst demands for carving
out separate Koshala and Kalinga states from Orissa, BJP today
said it favoured creation of smaller states for speedy and
balanced development of different regions of the country.
"One may not support the demand for formation of
Koshala or Kalinga states, but it is difficult to ignore the
issues that have given rise to these demands," BJP's Orissa
unit president Suresh Pujary said adding these issues must be
addressed properly.
"BJP believes in small states and the party leadership
has favoured fresh reorganisation process," Pujari told
reporters ahead of election of new state party chief scheduled
on December 23.
Lamenting Orissa being rated one of the poorest states
in the country, Pujari said Congress and Janata Dal family
including the ruling BJD are the main culprits for
perpetuating poverty and backwardness in the state marked by
deaths caused by malnutrition and farmers suicide as they
ruled here for long.
"While Congress is culprit No 1, BJD is culprit No 2,"
he said adding BJP is also not above criticism but it got
little power and role in the alliance with BJD.
"The day Naveen broke the alliance with BJP on the eve
of last elections was one of the happiest days for us. That
was an occasion for celebrations," he said.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, December 20, 2009, 20:41