It happened as it was expected during the much- hyped ration card seizures in western Odisha. The people of the rural Odisha in western region and especially the ladies have taken the right revenge. For no fault of them, they had to spend days together in different jails. They had to also surrender the ration cards. Even the worthy ones returned it out of fear for arbitrary police action and jail.
While the illiterate and innocent rural people had to suffer physical and mental torture, the Government officials issuing the cards went scot free. And from that time onwards, they took an oath to teach BJD and its leaders a lesson. They have shown their anger and revenge it the current Panchayat election, as is seen from the results from different parts of the State.
The Government servants issued ration cards after due verifications. It was then distributed to the beneficiaries. But when came the question of illegibility, it was only illiterate and innocent people who were punished and no action was taken against the issuing authorities. That anger was brewing in the people and they have given the befitting reply to Chief Minister and BJD boss Naveen Patnaik at the right time, many people here feel.
“This may not be the sole reason behind people’s dissatisfaction. But it is, no doubt, one of the reasons,” observe many.
Ration cards apart, a larger chunk of the youth mass are also remaining unemployed for long time. local industries give employment to outsiders. The youths have no alternative sources of income. Farmers are also not getting value of their products. Teaching community from schools to colleges is also a dissatisfied lot. All these added to the resentment of the mass towards the ruling party.