Bhubaneswar:Former Union minister and Congress leader Srikant Jena has raised the issue of social justice at a time when chief minister Naveen Patnaik is trying to find out whether various departments of his government have been able to deliver good governance to the people or not.

In a letter to chief minister Naveen Patnaik, Jena said: "It is quite disheartening to know that Odisha tops the list among the poverty-stricken states in the country. As many as 40 lakh youths are unemployed. According to Raghuram Rajan Committee report, the state fares very poor in all parameters of development."

Jena also said: "Minerals worth Rs 2 lakh crore were looted under during the Naveen's regime. Even Shah Commission has also pointed out rampant loot of minerals. Would you give your clarification on the above subjects?"

Jena, known for his penchant to bring Dalit card to the state politics, also raked up the Mandal commission issue.

He further said: "People belonging to other backward community (OBC), scheduled castes (SC), scheduled tribes (ST) and minorities constitute nearly 95 per cent of the state's population. But they remained a neglected lot under the BJD in its 18 years of rule. We need an answer why the state government has not implemented the Mandal Commission report so far."

Jena also questioned the chief minister why he did not accord 38.5 per cent reservation to the SC and ST students in technical and medical education as recommended Mandal Commission.

Jena also said the Naveen government had failed to give social justice to the people. "Of the BJD's nine Rajya Sabha members, none belongs to the Dalit community. Dalit leader Bishnu Charan Das was sent to Rajya Sabha, but he had been asked to step down just after a few months in the House. As many as seven MPs belong to general category. This speaks volumes about the government's commitment to render social justice to the weaker sections of the society"

Jena also has a piece of advice for Naveen. "At least you should appoint three deputy chief ministers representing the OBC, Dalit and ST communities. The government has not to spend a single pie for it. But the people from this community will get social dignity if you choose them as your deputy."

He also admitted that by raising the issue certain people would say that he was trying to indulge in caste politics. "But, this is also a part of political life," he said.