The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLAs protested inside the Odisha Assembly against the decision and even sat on a dharna near the Gandhi Statue inside the Assembly premises. They alleged that central PSUs are adopting a step-motherly attitude towards Odisha and its people.
The Odisha Government had roped in three central PSUs – NALCO, MCL and Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) and asked them to provide funds for the implementation of Aahar project. Just a few days ago, the Odisha BJP had slammed the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD Government for using central PSUs and companies to initiate their own schemes to gain political mileage.