The Utkal Bharat has strongly condemned the ostracisation of Sports and Youth Services Minister Sudam Marandi by his Santhal community for allowing his daughter to marry a Brahmin.
Citing several inter-caste marriages in the families of some political leaders, Utkal Bharat president Kharabela Swain stated that after 69 years of Independence when it has been declared in the Constitution to remove the caste system from the society, uttering caste-based remarks on a marriage is against democracy.
“Why can’t a highly-qualified doctor marry a person outside her caste,” he questioned.
Though it is true that Marandi has always been an opportunist in political field, it is totally unfair to follow the same path and create caste muddle for the marriage, Swain added.
The Utkal Bharat chief further questioned how the tribal community that has been demanding for equality and at times alleging of being subjected to discrimination is creating caste differentiationIJ And how some BJP and Congress leaders are encouraging such caste prejudices, he further wondered.