Naveen Meets Modi In Delhi, Seeks Additional Rs 5000 Cr For Fani Hit Odisha

New Delhi: After being elected as the Chief Minister of Odisha for the fifth consecutive time, BJD Chief Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the latter’s residence in New Delhi.

After the meeting, Patnaik told reporters, “I have just met the Prime Minister. I congratulated him on his electoral victory. I also requested him for special category status for Odisha. Besides, I have also asked for Rs 5000 crore additional assistance and 5 lakh pucca houses for the affected people.”

CM Naveen informed that he also asked for the revision of coal royalty, which has not been done for years and which would get the Odisha Government additional revenue.

Refuting speculations that the two leaders would talk about BJD contending for the Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker post amid opposition by NDA ally Shiv Sena, Naveen Patnaik said that there were no discussions at all.

He also stated that there was no discussion regarding Odisha joining Centre’s Ayushman Bharat healthcare scheme.

Patnaik also met President Ram Nath Kovind on a courtesy call and discussed the after-effects of Cyclone Fani.

Noteworthy, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, during his week-long stay in the national Capital, will also attend the 5th meeting of the Governing Council of the NITI Aayog on June 15 and is scheduled to return to Bhubaneswar the same evening.

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