Bhubaneswar: Amid the smearing tension over BJD’s volte-face on the Waqf Bill, senior leader and Athagarh MLA Ranendra Pratap Swain has called for reclaiming the party’s ideological legacy and identity rooted in social justice with secularism and regional dignity as its pillars.
In a letter to BJD president Naveen Patnaik, Swain raised concerns over what he described as the erosion of the party’s founding ideals, especially in addressing the needs of marginalised communities like SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities, and women. These groups, which constitute nearly 94% of Odisha’s population, continue to face ‘deep-rooted structural neglect’. He also highlighted ‘0% reservation in education’ for 54% of the OBC community in the state.
“We must not forget that Bibju Babu’s politics was rotted in social justice with secularism and regional pride as its natural extensions…. if we take forward the idea of social justice as the core of our political narrative, it will resonate powerfully with the masses,” he stressed, linking the idea of social justice with broader themes like economic justice, women’s empowerment, and secularism.
The MLA also pointed out ‘unchecked’ exploitation of Odisha’s mineral wealth. Odisha lags in human development indicators and suffers from pollution, deforestation, and displacement, despite contributing about 50% of India’s mineral output, he said.
He accused elements within the administration of colluding with mining operators and ignoring Supreme Court 2024 orders to impose cess and collect overdue taxes from mining companies. “Odisha is losing Rs 2 lakh crore annually and has Rs 1.5 lakh crore in pending dues,” he mentioned.
Swain also flagged the non-implementation of the PESA Act in the state, alleging that fake Gram Sabhas are being conducted to secure environmental clearances, undermining tribal rights.
He further criticized the central government for repeatedly ignoring Odisha’s demand for special category status, despite its vulnerability to natural disasters, historical underdevelopment and contribution to the nation’s economy. He termed this as another form of injustice.
To address these issues, Swain placed five key suggestions before the party leadership:
1. Conduct a comprehensive caste census for equitable policy decisions.
2. Enforce the Supreme Court’s mining taxation orders and recover dues.
3. Implement the PESA Act to protect tribal rights and decentralise decision-making process.
4. Push for special category status for Odisha.
5. Equitable representation of SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities, and women within the party organisation.
“Let’s us not let a few individuals hijack the party, distort the social fabric and deepen regional imbalance,” he wrote.
Referring to the unrest within the party over the Waqf Bill controversy, he urged the party leadership to take a clear stand on secularism, taking the cadre into confidence. “People of Odisha are looking at us for principled leadership. I am confident that under your guidance, the Bju Janata Dal can rise to the occasion and chart a bold path forward,” he added.
