Ex-MP Pradeep Majhi faces social ostracisation after inter-caste marriage

In a significant development in Odisha, former Member of Parliament (MP) Pradeep Majhi was ostracised by his community on Friday, following his inter-caste marriage.

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The central committee of tribal Bhatra society, located in Dhamanaguda, has declared that Majhi will be socially shunned for the next 12 years due to his inter-caste marriage. This decision implies that the tribal community members will abstain from attending any social gatherings hosted by him or his family, whether they are celebratory or mournful.

Accusations made by the Bhatra community

“Bhagaban Majhi’s son has been doing such things. He (Bhagaban), his brother, and his son (Pradeep Majhi) are responsible for this. Pradeep Majhi had got his sister Sanju Majhi married to a Brahmin youth at local Jagannath temple in the past,” the society vice-president Gopal Pujari said to the mediapersons.

“We strongly oppose his marriage and ostracise him for 12 years,” Gopal Pujari added.

“Pradeep Majhi married in Goa and we came to know about it from media sources. Bhatra community members gathered today in Dhamanaguda and have decided to ostracise him,” a functionary of the outfit, Ram Bhatra expressed.

Worth mentioning, the former MP married Sushree Sangita Sahu from Kendrapara district on March 12. Before this marriage, he had facilitated the wedding of his sister, Sanju Majhi, with an individual from the Brahmin caste.

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These repeated breaches of the tribal community rules have led to accusations that Majhi undermines the purity of Akhila Bharatiya Adivasi Bhatra Society (a tribal outfit).

As of now, Majhi has not provided any public comment on these allegations.