Bhubaneswar: The Opposition Congress and BJP today created heavy noise soon after the question hour began in the Assembly over the CM’s rally in Sundergarh yesterday where, they alleged, police showed disregard to women participants by forcing them to take off black colour stawls and shawls.
The members of the Opposition bench also demanded an apology from CM Naveen Patnaik in House over the issue. Unable to run the question hour, Speaker Niranjan Pujari adjourned the House till 3pm.
Congress alleged that the women were tortured and harassed mentally at chief minister’s meeting. “In the pre-text of providing security to CM, police have harassed the women participants at a rally. This is really painful and unfortunate. The chief minister should apologise for it”, Leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra said .
Opposition chief whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati termed the incident most unfortunate. “The CM, who claimed to have great respect for women, has insulted the mothers at his rally. He undressed them those wore black sarees. The CM should beg unconditional apology from the women society”, Bahinipati demanded.
Similarly, BJP dubbed the matter as a repeat of ‘Bastra Haran’ episode of Mahabharat. “Draupadi was forcefully undressed in a crowd meeting of ‘Kurus’ in Dwapar yug. A similar incident took place at CM’s rally yesterday. It is evident from yesterday rally that this government is so much feared of black clothes/flags”, BJP MLA Pradeep Purohit said.
However, BJD alleged that Opposition stalled the House forcefully as it is lacking issues to discuss. “No woman has made any complain yet. Police were performing their duty for VVIP security as per protocol. But, the Opposition parties has no such issues to raise in House”, MLA and BJD spokesperson Dibyasankar Mishra said.
Police forces, who were in charge of security for CM rally at Mangaspur in Sundargarh district yesterday, allegedly forced the women participants to take off their black colour stawls and shawls before entering the meeting venue.
The women were visibly upset and protested the police move as they pushed them in a bid to ensure that none uses any black colour clothes or garments as a mean to oppose the chief minister.