BJD holds protests against rail budget

Bhubaneswar, July 9 (IANS) The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Wednesday organised demonstrations across Odisha against the central government for neglecting the state the rail budget.

Party activists staged demonstrations near various railway stations across the state, a senior party leader told IANS here.

Similarly, the party legislators raised the issue during the zero hour in the ongoing monsoon session of the state assembly and raised slogans against the central government.

Holding placards and banners, they later staged a sit-in demonstration near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi within the assembly premises.

The protests by the ruling party came a day after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said his government had requested projects worth Rs.3,160 crore for the state but the central government granted only Rs.1,420 crore in the budget.