Priya Bharti Bhubaneswar: Under the banner of BZAKS (Balangir Zilla Adivasi Kalyan Sangh ) gheraoed the District Collector’s office today, over 5,000 tribals carrying traditional weapons
protesting against the reduction of reserved seats for members of their community in the upcoming 3-tier panchayat polls.
As per the reports, protestors alleged that posts of sarpanches in 72 panchayats and three block chairman posts in Balangir district which were initially reserved for the candidates from their community have been de-reserved.
The Sangh threatened to further intensify its agitation by taking it to every panchayat if the reservation of the before mentioned seats is not restored.
The protestors who tore up BJD posters and pictures of Naveen Patnaik vowed to politically boycott the State government.
