Muted response to OBC groups’ bandh

Bhubaneswar: A nationwide bandh called by organisations representing backward classes on Wednesday had no impact in the state with business and other establishments remaining open and vehicular movement unaffected.
The Bharat Bandh was called by the All India Backward and Minority Communities Employees Federation (BAMCEF) and other outfits of backward classes to protest against the Centre’s decision to not conduct a caste census.
Members of several dalit, tribal, backward classes, minority communities and their organisations on Wednesday staged demonstrations at many places in the state demanding caste census and other facilities.
In the state, the Rashtriya Pachhua Varg Morcha (RPVM) led the protests with the help of Bharat Mukti Morcha, Rashtriya Adivasi Ekta Parishad, Bharatiya Vidyarthi Morcha, Bahujan Kranti Morcha, Rashtriya Mulnivasi Mahila Sangh, Republican Party of India (RPI), Bhim Army and All Odisha Scheduled Caste Federation.
RPVM state president Jagdish Yadav said they staged demonstration at different places, including Vani Vihar square at Bhubaneswar and in several places of Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Ganjam districts.
“Besides caste-based census, we demand reservations for the SC/ST/OBC communities in the private sector, resumption of the old-age pension scheme, protection of labour rights and no displacement of tribal people, a guaranteed minimum support price (MSP) for farmers, and implementation of OBC reservation in panchayat polls in Odisha and Madhya Pradesh,” he added.
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