BJD Accuses Odisha Govt Of Neglecting OBCs, Demands Caste Census

Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Thursday lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Odisha accusing it of neglecting backward class communities.

Addressing a press meet in Bhubaneswar, the regional party’s Rajya Sabha members Sasmit Patra and Subhashish Khuntia said that the previous BJD government led by Naveen Patnaik worked sincerely for the uplift of backward classes in the state.

Stating that BJD had always fought for the welfare of the downtrodden, they alleged that the BJP governments in the state as well as the Centre are giving no attention to the needs of people belonging to backward class communities.

Demanding immediate steps to undertake caste-based census in the state, both Patra and Khuntia said that the number of people belonging to backward class communities has to be determined for formulating welfare programmes for them.

They said the BJP government must support the issue and take necessary steps to conduct caste-based census and lift the ceiling on 50 per cent reservation.

The BJD leaders pointed out that the previous government had demanded caste-based census in the state. The state Cabinet had also passed a resolution in January 2020 for such a census and approved a proposal for the amendment of Odisha State Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993.

The previous BJD government had also constituted the State Commission for Backward Classes with the appointment of former High Court Judge Justice Raghunath Biswal as chairman. The Assembly on February 17, 2020, also passed unanimous resolution to amend the Odisha State Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993 to enable the state government to survey the social and educational condition of the people belonging to the backward classes.

Stating that the number of the Other Backward Class and the Socially and Economically Backward Classes is more than half of the population of Odisha, the BJD leaders said the state government has not been able to make 50 pc reservation for them due to the directive of the court.

They also demanded a proportionate reservation for different categories in admission to technical and medical institutions.

Noting that more than 100 days have elapsed since the BJP came to power in the state, the BJD leaders claimed that the state government is yet to initiate any step to give justice to the people belonging to backward class communities.

Patra said BJP was making tall claims about double-engine government before the 2024 elections. However, it seems to have forgotten all its promises after forming government in the state, he said.

BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said the party, being the main opposition in the state, will continue to work for safeguarding the interest of the backward classes.