Ahead of the BJD's 20th foundation day on Tuesday, Congress leader and former Union Minister Srikant Jena on Monday said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik should not work for development of a particular category of people, who constitutes 10 per cent of the State’s population, and should make plans to uplift the rest 90 per cent people, who come under SC, ST, OBC and SEBC categories.
Without taking name of any caste, Jena alleged that Patnaik has begun a caste-based politics. He said this apparently referring to the dismissal of Damodar Rout from the Ministry on the charge of his anti-Brahmin remarks.
“While OBC and SEBC people constitute 52 per cent of the population, ST and SC people are 38.5 per cent. This means 90 per cent of people are poor, for whom the Naveen Patnaik Government has done nothing during the last 18 years,” Jena alleged. He said over 40 lakh educated youths are now awaiting employment in the State. He demanded that Patnaik take a decision in view of the BJD’s foundation day celebration as to when he would give employment to the 90-per cent ‘category’ people. He demanded a 27-per cent reservation for OBC categories in Government jobs and education.
On Mahanadi issue, Jena slammed the State Government for sticking to formation of a tribunal only. The CM should make it clear whether he would persist on closure of all barrages undertaken in Chhattisgarh in the upper catchment of the river. Demanding a tribunal indicates that Odisha concedes to water-sharing only. Barrages would have an adverse impact on the Hirakud Dam, he said, and demanded that the Odisha Government forthwith approach the NGT for closure of all barrages constructed or being constructed in Chhattisgarh.