Bhubaneswar: Amid the escalating pressure within the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) over its volte-face on the Waqf Invoice voting in Rajya Sabha, eight-time MLA and former minister Ranendra Pratap Swain has demanded that occasion chief Naveen Patnaik take a principled stand on the conduct of complete caste census like Telangana and Karnataka in order that the occasion can reclaime its ideological legacy on social justice.
BJD chief Naveen Patnaik. (File Photograph)
In a letter to Patnaik, Swain wrote that the foundational beliefs of the occasion — Social Justice and Secularism — are being examined in unprecedented methods and the current discontent amongst occasion employees over the Waqf Invoice controversy has raised severe questions on our stand on secularism.
“The party must reaffirm its commitment to both social justice and secularism as its core planks and take the cadre into full confidence moving forward. This is a moment to reclaim our ideological legacy and reassert our identity as a party rooted in Social Justice-with secularism and regional dignity as its pillars,” he wrote, emphasising that if the occasion takes ahead the concept of social justice because the core of its political narrative, it should resonate powerfully with the plenty. “It naturally aligns with economic justice, women empowerment, and secularism – allowing these interconnected values to fall into place. Social Justice must be at the forefront of our party’s ideological and policy plank.”
Looking for a complete caste census, Swain stated the OBC group, stays grossly uncared for although they represent 54% of the inhabitants however are usually not getting any reservation in training. “The promise of equity remains incomplete and is weakening the trust of our core constituents. We must never forget that Biju Babu’s politics was rooted in social justice, with secularism and regional pride as its natural extensions. He envisioned a society where the marginalised are empowered with dignity, representation, and opportunity. The situation today calls for clarity, courage, and concrete action to deepen our social justice commitment across all sectors,” he wrote.
A survey of Socially and Educationally Backward Lessons in Odisha was carried out by the Odisha State Fee for Backward Lessons between Could 1 and June 6, 2023 to evaluate the social and academic circumstances of SEBC communities. It reported that 39.31% of Odisha’s projected 2023 inhabitants (1.94 crore individuals throughout 53.96 lakh households) belongs to SEBC, primarily based on voluntary responses collected at designated facilities or on-line. Nevertheless, no formal caste census has been carried out since 1931. Odisha maintains an inventory of 209 SEBC communities, which is equal to the OBC class used on the central authorities degree or in different states.
The previous minister urged Patnaik to make sure equitable illustration for all areas and communities, particularly SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities and ladies in proportion to their inhabitants, on the state, district and block ranges of the occasion organisation. “Let not a few individuals hijack the party, distort the social fabric, or deepen regional imbalances,” he wrote.
Alleging the mining cartel have been controlling the state’s politics, Swain stated Patnaik ought to demand implementation of Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 which may cease the exploitation of tribal lands and voices.
“Fake Gram Sabhas in tribal areas are being held to secure Environmental Clearances. Supreme Court’s judgments of July 25 and August 14, 2024 directing the state to impose cess and collect retrospective taxes on mineral-bearing lands- are not being enforced due to which Odisha is losing ₹2 lakh crore annually, and ₹1.5 lakh crore in pending dues from the powerful mining cartels. The unchecked dominance of mining operators is not only draining the social contract, weakening democratic economy-it is distorting accountability, undermining social justice at its core,” he wrote.