Odisha Congress launched a 24-hour protest demanding a caste-based census and a 27% reservation for Other Backward Classes

Bhubaneswar:22/5/25: Tensions over reservation policies escalated in Bhubaneswar as the Congress party launched a 24-hour protest on Gandhi Marg, demanding a caste-based census and a 27% reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in education and employment sectors.

The dharna, marked by sloganeering and placards, underscored the party’s resolve to fight for OBC rights across the state, from urban centers to rural areas.

The protest comes in response to the state government’s decision to allocate only 11.25% of seats for OBCs in educational institutions and government jobs, a move that Congress leaders have criticized as inadequate and dismissive of the community’s needs.

The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Bhakta Charan Das has sharply condemned the government, accusing it of treating OBCs with disdain.

“The government must stop offering token gestures as if OBCs are beggars. We demand an immediate implementation of a 27% reservation, or the fight will intensify,” he declared during the protest.

Congress leaders emphasized that a caste-based census is essential to ensure equitable representation and opportunities for marginalized communities.

The party has vowed to sustain its agitation until the state government meets its demands, signaling a broader movement to address OBC rights across Odisha.