BJP SC Morcha terms Odisha government anti-dalit; BJD responds

BJP's Scheduled Caste Morcha president and former MP Bibhu Prasad Tarai on Saturday accused the Odisha government of depriving the Scheduled Caste community of its legitimate rights.

At a presser organised on the occasion of BJP’s Maha Jan Sampark Abhiyan, Tarai alleged that the Odisha government is anti-dalit. Though the Centre is releasing adequate funds to ensure that dalits are part of the mainstream, the Odisha government is acting as a hindrance to their development, he said.

“Whatever fund is required for providing basic amenities including food, shelter, electricity, toilet, health and pension to SC and dalits is released by the Centre to the state. However, the state government has failed to utilise the funds and is anti-dalit,” alleged Tarai.

The senior leader also showcased the works done by the BJP-government at the Centre in the last nine years and highlighted the failures of the Odisha government.

Responding to the BJP’s allegations, BJD spokesperson Gautam Buddha Das said, “We want to ask BJP what they have done for the people of Odisha in the last nine years. It is clear that the only thing BJP has done is that they have betrayed the people.”