BJP's 'Lal Churi Abhiyan': Rising atrocities against women triggers massive protests

Bhubaneswar: BJP Mahila Morcha activists today took out a massive red bangles rally- the ‘Lal Churi Abhiyan’ marching towards Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s residence in Bhubaneswar alleging failure of the BJD-led Odisha Government in ensuring justice to the Pipili gang rape and murder victim. This apart, they alleged that the ruling government has failed to provide security to women in the State.

Reportedly, hundreds of members of the State BJP’s women wing, carrying bundles of red bangles in hand, marched towards Naveen Niwas from BJP headquarters demanding a CBI inquiry into the Pipili case and protested the rising incidents of crime against women including girl children.

BJP Mahila Morcha members organise rally in #Bhubaneswar alleging failure of #Odisha government in providing security to women pic.twitter.com/ixkfrDkbFx

— OTV (@otvnews) January 21, 2019

BJP Mahila Morcha leader Prabhati Parida, who led the rally, said, “The red bangles have been gathered from women across the State and is a mark of our respect. We have brought bangles and will gift it to the CM asking him to provide us security.”

While pressing for a CBI inquiry into the Pipili gangrape and murder case, BJP MP and senior leader Roopa Ganguly who was also a part of the rally questioned, “On what basis, did the Court acquit all the accused ? And if they were released due to the lack of evidence, then who committed the heinous crime? Where have all the evidences disappeared? We want a CBI inquiry into the incident.”

Further questioning the government on the recent cases of minor girls delivering babies, she said, “Odisha government has to answer how the minor girls of the State are delivering babies in residential government-run hostels. As red bangles empower the women, we will gift these bangles to Patnaik ji to give him the courage to decide what is right.”

#WATCH: BJP Mahila Morcha activists scuffle with police while marching towards #Odisha Secretariat pic.twitter.com/3ZrMVZhOj0

— OTV (@otvnews) January 21, 2019

Meanwhile, the activists scuffled with police personnel when they were stopped by the latter while marching towards Naveen Niwas. Some of them started walking towards State Secretariat via PMG by breaking the barricades.

Following the scuffle, many saffron party activists were even taken into a preventive custody.

Critising the act of the BJP Mahila Morcha, BJD leader Kasturi Mohapatra said, “This is hillarious and ill-fated. As they don’t have any other issues, they are trying to dig baseless topics. By showcasing red bangles as a sign of weakness, BJP has declared that they are weak.”

“When sexual assaults in ashram schools in Bihar came to fore, Dharmendra Pradhan was the MP of Bihar then. Why was he not asked to wear bangles and tender his resignation then? Naveen-government has always strived for the development and empowerment of women and incidents like rapes should be fought legally in courts and government has followed all the procedures,” added Mohapatra.