The ruling BJD intensified its protest against Centre by launching a signature campaign demanding allocation of more funds and special category status for Odisha. Earlier, the part had observed a 12-hour state-wide ‘hartal’ against Centre’s discriminatory policies towards the state.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the signature drive at Raj Bhawan on Sunday. The party intends to collect more than 1 crore signatures and those will be sent to the President of India to press for special category status for the state.

All the state ministers, MPs, MLAs and other eminent persons including freedom fighter Purusottam Nayak joined the campaign.

The signature campaign is an another move by the BJD against Centre after Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on April 18 approved allocation of funds of Rs 250 crore per annum for Odisha’s KBK region under the Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF) in 12th five year plan. The Centre’s step-motherly attitude was noticed when the committee approved the allocation of funds of Rs 12,000 crore under the same BRGF.

Naveen had expressed displeasure over less fund for the KBK region. He accused the UPA government of discriminating against Odisha.