Deogarh, Apr 30: The Odisha government is an anti-tribal and anti-backward caste government. Even though the Constitution says the land of tribals cannot be sold, the BJD government hatched a conspiracy to take away land from the tribals and bring them down.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan alleged this by putting a poser, "If the Odisha Cabinet had not decided to sell tribal lands?"
Pradhan severely criticized BJD Lok Sabha candidate Pradeep Majhi for making a false statement based on a fake video of Amit Shah.

"While the video has been proven fake, a case has been registered against Telangana Chief Minister. It has been a practice of Gumasta to spread lies during the election campaign. It is disappointing that Majhi gave the statement based on the fake video at the behest of imported Gumasta," said Pradhan.

He urged the Chief Electoral Officer to take legal action against Majhi for making a concocted and falst statement, which is moving on social media. He said the BJP strongly condemned Majhi's statement.

The Union Minister said that there can't be a criminal offence more than making wrong comments in the name of the Home Minister of the country.

He said the Odisha government doesn't deserve to talk about tribals' protection. "Who made the Cabinet decision to sell tribal land? If the Chief Minister has any morals, he should speak his party's words. Did not he take a Cabinet decision to sell the tribal land last year to give it to the capitalists? Didn't the Cabinet change its decision under the pressure of tribals? Who conspired to sabotage tribals by changing the constitution, wanted to know the Union Minister.

Pradhan slammed the State government saying it filed more than 50,000 excise and forest-related and other cases against the tribals and subsequently promised to withdraw the cases.

"Will not tribal people collect Mahul and other forest products to eke out their living? However, the State government filed cases against the tribals for collecting forest products and, on the other hand, giving a free hand to the liquor mafia of Jharkhand to enhance its excise business," pointed out Pradhan.

Slamming the government for not holding a tribal advisory committee (TAC) meeting, Pradhan exuded confidence that tribals would give a befitting reply to the BJD government this time.

Regarding OBC reservation, Pradhan said the Naveen Patnaik government has emerged first in the country for not providing 27 percent reservation to the category.

Raising another issue, Pradhan said Ganjam has become the birthplace of Dadans (migrant labourers) and Hinjili has taken center stage even though Naveen Patnaik was CM five times. A similar situation has prevailed in Kantabanji too.

While the Chief Minister has filed nomination papers for Hinjili today, Pradhan demanded that the Chief Minister publish a white paper on what he has done for the employment of the youth of Hinjili during the long 24-year rule.

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