Even as the Odisha Government is geared up for a survey of the SEBCs in the State and complete it by July second week, former Union Minister Srikant Jena has dubbed it as a bid to take the SEBCs for a ride.
Targeting the BJD Government for cheating the SEBCs for the last 22 years despite repeated pleas for a caste based survey, Jena said the current move by the Naveen Patnaik Government is to win the 2024 general and Assembly elections by grabbing the SEBCs' votes who comprises 54 per cent of the State's population.
"Is it a survey on the basis of caste," asked Jena. He further said during the 22 years rule of the BJD Government, the OBCs have been deprived of their due share in job and education. While lakhs of OBC youths are jobless, the political and administrative power in Odisha only lies with 6% of population. The SCs and STs who comprise about 38.5% of the population too have got a raw deal, alleged Jena.
He declared that to protect the interest of the SEBCs and claim their Constitutional rights, an "Adhikar Yatra" will be launched soon in Odisha and sought the cooperation of the like-minded political parties and forums to join hands.