In a statement of BJP leader Pruthwiraj Harichandan on the caste-based census on Wednesday triggered sharp criticism from other political parties in the State.
Ruling BJD leader Ipsita Sahu said Hraichandan’s statement exposed the double standards of the BJP. As he is not a member of the State Assembly, he isn’t aware about a unanimous resolution passed in the House in February 2020 on the Odisha State Backward Class Census (Amendment) Bill, which was supported by all political parties, including the BJP.
Samjawadi Party State president Rabi Behera criticised the “volta face” of the BJP and said that when Prime Minister Modi recently strengthened his Cabinet with maximum representation from the backward classes eying the upcoming elections and Union Minister and frontrunner Odisha BJP face Dharmendra Pradhan has time and again demanded backward class reservation in Odisha, Hraichandan’s statement showed the party’s double standard.