In Bhubaneswar, the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) plans to surround the Odisha Assembly on September 23 in a dramatic gherao protest. The party slams the BJP-led state government for undermining the three-tier Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) by stripping away powers from local elected leaders.
At a press conference, senior BJD leader Debi Prasad Mishra pointed to sharp budget cuts in key social welfare schemes. These include the Jal Jeevan Mission for clean water access, PM Awas Yojana for housing the poor, and Antyodaya Awas Yojana for the most vulnerable families. He also highlighted delays in wages for workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), leaving rural laborers frustrated and unpaid.
Mishra vowed that the BJD won’t stand by quietly. “This is a clear plot by the BJP government to dismantle Odisha’s Panchayati Raj system,” he said. He accused authorities of limiting the roles of grassroots bodies like Zila Parishads, Panchayat Samitis, and Gram Sabhas, which handle local development and community decisions.
Fellow BJD leader Arun Kumar Sahoo echoed these concerns, saying the state has spent the last 15 months chipping away at the PRI structure—from Zilla Parishads at the district level to Panchayat Samitis at the block level and Gram Panchayats in villages. Just yesterday, a new order—already approved by the cabinet—handed project approvals worth up to Rs 10 lakh to Block Development Officers (BDOs). This move, Sahoo argued, turns Panchayat Samiti chairpersons into figureheads with no real say. “Even Zilla Parishad presidents have become rubber stamps,” he added.
Sahoo went further, claiming district Collectors and MLAs now hold the power to override decisions made in Gram Sabhas and local panchayats. “It’s a direct attack on local democracy,” he said.
The BJD is calling on all PRI elected officials—Sarpanchs, Samiti members, ward members, and Zilla Parishad representatives across Odisha—to join the September 23 gherao. Their goal? Rally together to protect the Panchayati Raj Institutions and fight for grassroots democracy against what they see as the BJP government’s overreach.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
