The Odisha unit of Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday threatened to launch massive demonstration in coming days over the land rights of tribal people in the State.
“The Odisha government has not given land deeds (pattas) to many eligible tribals as per the Forest Rights Act. A large number of tribals in the State are still landless and they do not have homestead land,” alleged Rabi Nayak, general secretary of BJP Scheduled Tribe (ST) Morcha.
Addressing a presser on the occasion of the State executive body meeting of the ST Morcha, Nayak said, “The BJD government in its 22 years rule has been deceiving the tribals who constitute 23 per cent of the total population in the State.”
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“Today, the executive meeting has decided to adopt protest route against the mismanagement in coming days,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion, national general secretary of BJP Scheduled Tribe Morcha Gajendra Patel said, “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, eight from the scheduled tribe (ST) community have been made ministers in the Union cabinet. We have tried to bring together all the communities.”
“We will hold wide discussions during the State executive meeting of the ST Morcha and try to strengthen the party at the grass-root level. Some people are spreading rumours within the ST community and we will clarify them,” he added.
National President of BJP’s ST Morcha Sameer Oraon, other senior leaders and workers of the party attended the State executive meeting of the party.