Bhubaneswar, February 1: Naveen Patnaik, the BJD president and Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Assembly, on Saturday criticized the Union Budget for 2025-26, stating it fails to address critical issues like unemployment and rising prices.
Patnaik highlighted that Odisha's long-standing demand for special category status has been dismissed by the central government, even as other states receive special provisions.
In a statement on X, Patnaik, who is also Odisha's five-time chief minister, said: "The youth of our country are in desperate need of jobs, and common people are suffering due to the unchecked rise in prices of essential commodities. It's unfortunate that two of the most pressing challenges – unemployment and price rise – have been ignored in #Budget2025."
He further pointed out that Odisha’s call for special category status, given the state's vulnerability to frequent natural disasters, has again been overlooked, while other states are receiving special attention in the budget.
