Mrunal Manmay Dash

Questioning the Odisha government’s claims on women empowerment, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday demanded the government to come clean on allegation of harassment of a woman against one of its ministers.

The BJP targeted the government citing a viral video where a woman has brought allegations of harassment against a Minister from Southern Odisha.

The saffron party alleged that despite several requests, the police never registered any complaint against the Minister forcing the woman to attempt suicide.

“It is out in the open how the Ministers and MLAs of the BJD are exploiting women in the guise of women empowerment. We demand the government to clarify the name of the South Odisha Minister against whom the allegations have been brought. We also have reports that an out-of-the-court settlement has been made with the woman after directions from the ‘Third Floor’ of the State secretariat,” said BJP’s Golak Mohapatra.

Mohapatra further said, “Apart from this, another BJD MLA from Jagatsinghpur has also been accused of cheating a woman and it took nine months and a High Court order for the police to register an FIR against the MLA.”

On Monday, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan too had raked up the issue. Addressing a press conference, Pradhan said, “A video of the minister’s dirty work has been making rounds on the internet. That woman was so harassed that she attempted to kill herself. In Odisha, the intent of the government is vile.”

The Congress party too demanded an explanation from the government. “The BJD and Naveen Patnaik have failed to control their Ministers and MLAs. The recent social media posts and the viral video has brought bad name for not only the government but for the Assembly as well. The government should come clean on it as soon as possible,” said, Congress Spokesperson, Nishikant Mishra.

The BJD however, denied to comment on anybody’s character without any solid proof.

“I do not know about the contents of the viral video. The Minister himself can answer better than me. But I want to say that we should not attack anybody’s character without any proof,” said, BJD MLA, Sudhir Samal.

(Reported By Haharihar Chand and Jagdish Das, OTV)

scrollToTop