Ramakanta Biswas

Mincing no words,  Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), National Vice President Baijayant Panda on Saturday lambasted the Odisha government over the steep rise in crimes against women in the State. 

"NCRB reports show the crime cases against women have shown a sharp spurt in the State during the past couple of years. The deterioration in the crime rate against women clearly shows the timid response of the State government," Panda reasoned. 

Putting the ruling party's political leaders in the dock, Panda said, "Reports suggested how in many such women crime cases, the perpetrators have clear links with the ruling party politicians and even many leaders were found allegedly involved. As the law here didn't take its own course, and no stringent actions were taken against such political personalities by the powers-that-be, the crime rate against women is growing at a galloping rate in Odisha," Panda observed. 

On the sensational lady teacher Mamita Meher murder case that has drawn national opprobrium for the State, the BJP leader said very serious allegations were levelled against the incumbent Minister of State for Home Dibya Shankar Mishra. 

“It is being alleged that he used to visit a ladies' hostel, but why? This matter should not be taken so lightly,” Panda said.

“The issue is not limited to Odisha alone. It is being discussed in national media too. A protest has been held over it in Delhi recently. Hopeful that proper action will be taken in this case” he added.

Earlier, sharing a news article that highlighted the visit of Minister Dibya Shankar to the girl’s hostel where the sex racket is believed to be run by Govind Sahu, the main accused in the murder case, Panda tweeted, “Read & weep. A woman murdered, girls allegedly exploited, a state in turmoil, but Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik refuses to drop this guy from his govt.”

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