Hundreds of SC community people, including a sizeable number of women, under the banner of the Anusuchita Jati Sangram Samiti on Saturday sat on a dharna in front of the RDC (North Division) office, demanding finalisation of the caste issue of Regnali BJD MlA Ramesh Patua. They alleged that though Patua belongs to general category, changed his caste in his nomination paper and consequently got elected from the Rengali (SC) constituency, depriving a real SC candidate from his right.
“While the High Court had ordered to resolve Patua’s caste issue in three months’ time, the RDC is yet to act on the order even after passing of nine months. This inaction is clearly a dishonor to the court,” alleged Sanjay Kumar Chhuria, a senior samiti member. Chhuria said he has already collected all information through the RTI Act regarding Patua’s caste and his parental origin in Chhattisgarh. Nauri Naik, who had contested the seat under a BJP ticket, urged the RDC, who was the chairman of the State level Scrutiny Committee (SlSC), to act without fear and not to adopt a dillydallying policy that would favour the ruling party.