BJD Seeks Law to Remove 50% Reservation Cap

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) demanded Central law to remove 50 per cent cap on reservation.

Senior BJD leaders and state ministers Ranendra Pratap Swain and Arun Kumar Sahoo held a joint press conference here on Tuesday, on this issue.

Swain demanded legislation of a Central law to remove the 50 per cent cap on reservation and conducting of caste-based Census for other backward castes (OBC) or socially and educationally backward classes (SEBCs).

“More than 50 per cent of Odisha’s population belongs to OBC and SEBC. However, reservation at the rate of half of their population, cannot be provided to them because the ceiling fixed by the Supreme Court,” Swain said.

To remove the cap set by court, conduct of caste-based census is needed, he said.

“Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had earlier raised the issue and today, we are reiterating the same. NDA’s allies also have raised this issue. It will help to ascertain the actual population of backward classes and subsequently, their development can be initiated,” the BJD leader demanded.

Stating hike in reservation and caste census are two sides of a coin, Sahoo said, “Due to the capping by courts, OBC population of Odisha are deprived from getting the reservation benefits and facing difficulties.”

Various political parties with allegiance to the BJP have raised their voice in support of repealing the 50 per cent cap on the reservation. The silence of BJP leaders on this issue shows its apathy towards other backward classes, he said.

However, the Chief Minister is committed to give justice to OBCs in the State, he added.

(IANS)