Even though Speaker Niranjan Pujari had last week declared any hunger strike inside Assembly premises not permissible, the SC and ST MlAs belonging to Opposition Congress and BJP sat in a dharna again on Wednesday in front of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s chamber demanding a 38-per cent reservation in Government jobs and promotions and admissions in educational institutions.
The MlAs demanded proper implementation of the Odisha Reservation of Vacancies (ORV) Act, which provides for reservation for SC and ST categories in proportion to their populations.
The MlAs led by Krushna Chandra Sagaria holding placards also demanded reservation of 38 per cent of seats in medical and engineering colleges and other institutes of higher education.
Notably, the MlAs led by leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra had staged demonstration in front of the CM’s chamber demanding immediate ruling from the Speaker.
The MlAs alleged that though the Government had promised to implement their demands, nothing tangible has happened as yet. They requested the Speaker to initiate efforts in this regard.