Bhubaneswar: The youth wing of BJD on Sunday lambasted the BJP government in Odisha for its lack of vision and policies for youth development.
Addressing a presser, Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BYJD) president Chinmaya Sahoo said this neglect has created widespread frustration among young people. “The government lacks any concrete youth policy and has no structured plan for empowering the youth. Plans are afoot to reopen 70 liquor shops, many of which are located near schools and religious sites, while concurrently promoting ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat’ through marathons,” he said, accusing the ruling dispensation of “double standards”.
Sahoo also accused the BJP government of betraying its pre-poll promise to fill up 1.5 lakh vacant government posts within two years. “In 15 months, there have been only 57,000 appointments, most of which were initiated by the previous BJD government. The BJP is simply handing out appointment letters and taking credit. This apart, at least 15 exams conducted in the past year were marred by controversy,” he noted.
The BYJD president called the Rs 16 lakh crore in investments as claimed by the state government a sham. “No major projects have materialised and several companies that had signed MoUs under the previous BJD government are moving out of Odisha,” he alleged, citing media reports.
He said the state had earned national and international acclaim in sports under Naveen Patnaik leadership through infrastructure development and hosting of prestigious events, but the sector is on the decline now, which has left sports enthusiasts and youth disheartened. “Similarly, tourism has suffered due to deteriorating law and order, with even the United States issuing advisories against travelling to Odisha. A decline in tourist footfall has affected the livelihoods of people dependent on tourism,” he said.
Rising crimes against women, including gang rapes, contradict the government’s empowerment rhetoric, he further stated.
Sahoo warned that continued neglect of youth would lead to statewide protests.
The BYJD also announced plans to organise a Youth Unemployment Convention to raise their voice for the rights of the jobless in the state.
