BJD Youth wing slams BJP govt in Odisha over neglect of Gen Z, development and jobs

The youth wing of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Odisha’s principal Opposition party, on Sunday accused the 15-month-old BJP government of neglecting Generation Z . Charging the government with having “no vision or roadmap for youth development,” Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BYJD) president Chinmaya Sahoo said this neglect has created widespread frustration among young people.

Addressing a press conference, Sahoo said unemployment in the state has reached alarming levels. “The government lacks any concrete youth policy and has no structured plan for empowering the youth,” he alleged.

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He accused the BJP of “double standards,” pointing out that while the government organizes marathons under the banner of “Nasha Mukt Bharat” (Drug-Free India), it has simultaneously reopened nearly 70 liquor shops that were earlier shut down by the BJD government. Many of these outlets, he noted, are close to educational institutions and religious places.

On the issue of employment, Sahoo accused the BJP of betraying its pre-poll promise to fill 1.5 lakh vacant government posts within two years. “In 15 months, only 57,000 jobs have been claimed and those too were part of recruitment drives initiated during Naveen Patnaik’s tenure. The BJP is simply handing out appointment letters and taking credit,” he said.

He also flagged irregularities in recruitment, noting that at least 15 exams conducted in the past year were marred by controversy.

On the industrial and economic front, Sahoo said the state’s claim of attracting Rs16 lakh crore in investments has not translated into a single project. Instead, several companies that had signed MoUs under the previous BJD government are reportedly leaving Odisha, according to media reports.

In sports, he said Odisha had earned national and international acclaim under Naveen Patnaik’s leadership by developing infrastructure and hosting global events, but the sector is now in decline. Similarly, tourism has suffered due to law-and-order issues, with even the United States issuing advisories against travel to Odisha — a blow to livelihoods dependent on the sector.

On women’s safety, Sahoo alleged that crimes against women, including gang rapes, are rising rapidly. “While the government holds marathons in the name of empowerment, the reality is that crimes against women are increasing at marathon speed,” he remarked.

He further warned the BJP government, saying the youth of Odisha would be compelled to take to the streets if their concerns continued to be ignored. The BYJD also announced plans to organize a Youth Unemployment Convention to press for the rights of jobless youth in the state.