Crime Rate Belies BJD govt's 'Maa Ku Samman' Pledge: Opposition

Bhubaneswar: A couple of days after the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) released the 'Crime in India – 2017' report, which placed Odisha among the top -10 states in the country where the crime rate against women is very high, the BJP and the Congress today slammed the ruling-BJD left, right and centre.

Alleging that the ruling-BJD only gives slogans like ‘Maa Ku Samman’, but it never follows it up with action, BJP spokesperson Golak Mohapatra said, "Women are not safe under the current party's rule in Odisha. The NCRB report proves it and has exposed the real face of the Odisha government."

Further taking a jibe at the Odisha Chief Minister, Mohapatra said crime against women is at an alarming rate in the State whose CM was earlier adjudged as the best CM in the country.

"Odisha also tops the chart in industrial riots in the country and it has adversely affected the industrialisation process in the State. Can those who are roaming around the State singing praises for the Odisha government's 5T model of governance explain how can women remain safe here?" Mohapatra questioned.

Odisha Congress chief Niranjan Patnaik termed the report as discouraging and said, "It is disheartening to see Odisha becoming one of the most unsafe places for women. CM Naveen Patnaik's pious declarations during elections contrast starkly with what women face on the streets."

Responding to the allegations, Minister of State, Home Dibya Shankar Mishra said, "Police will intensify their action in such incidents and stringent action will be taken against the accused."