ECoR hqr row: BJD stages protest

Ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) today launched a three-day protest across the state against the Union Tribal Affairs and Panchayati Raj Minister V Kishore Chandra Deo's statement pleading for relocation of the headquarters of the East Coast Railway (ECoR) to Vishakhapatnam from Bhubaneswar.

Raising anti-UPA government slogans, the party leaders and workers staged peaceful demonstration at railway stations in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Balasore and other places.

"We opposed the proposal of the Union minister to shift the headquarters of ECoR from Bhubaneswar," said Pramila Mallick, senior BJD leader.

The Congress also disapproved Deo's plea and urged the opponents not to politicise the issue.

"Deo might have given this proposal to enhance his image in his own constituency. Indian government does not subscribe to such proposal. The issue should not be politicised," said Srikant Jena, Congress leader and Union minister.

Deo had proposed shifting of the base of ECoR to Vizag in a submission before Antony Committee, which is looking into the impact of separation of Telangana from Andhra Pradesh and the possible mitigation measures to counter any untoward situation.

Meanwhile, Deo has issued a clarification after his proposal has stirred a hornet's nest in the state. The Union minister said, there was no question of depriving Odisha whatsoever in this regard. "It was proposed that the ECoR be shifted from Bhubaneswar to Visakhapatnam only after shifting of South Eastern Zonal Railways headquarters to Bhubaneswar from Kolkata," he stated.