They alleged step-motherly attitude of the Centre towards Odisha’s cause, saying the budgetary allocations failed to fulfil the aspirations of the common people in the state. Former Lok Sabha MP Jayaram Pangi took the lead in holding the protests.
Apart from Jayaram Pangi, BJD’s Koraput MLA Candidate Raghu Ram Machho, State Bar Council Member Bishnu Patra, Koraput Zilla Parishad Chairperson Malati Majhi, former Zilla Parishad Member Ashok Pangi and Councilor from Jayanagar (Jeypore), Arati Mishra were present during the dharna.