‘Total failure…’: Naveen Patnaik slams Odisha Govt on International Women’s Day

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Naveen Patnaik, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) and president of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), launched a sharp attack on Sunday on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, accusing it of failing women in the State.

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LoP Patnaik alleged that the BJP-led government has completely failed at the ground level, claiming that cases of atrocities against women are steadily rising while authorities remain unresponsive to their grievances. He stressed that women play a crucial role in every sphere of life, from family to the nation and even globally, and no society can progress without their participation.

Recalling the legacy of Biju Patnaik, Naveen said the late leader had long understood the importance of women's empowerment. According to him, the historic phase of empowering women began during Biju Patnaik’s time, inspiring the BJD to implement several initiatives aimed at supporting mothers and bringing women into the mainstream of development in the State.

“Our dear leader Biju Babu had understood this well. The BJD-led government had taken many historic steps for the empowerment of women. During the BJP Government's tenure, atrocities against women have been continuously increasing. There is no one to listen. It is a total failure of leadership at the government level,” the LoP Patnaik stated.

However, the BJP strongly rejected these allegations. BJP legislator Jaya Narayan Mishra countered that incidents of atrocities against women were actually higher during the BJD’s tenure. He further alleged that several senior leaders of the BJD had links to illegal baby-trafficking cases, calling the Opposition’s criticism ‘ridiculous’.

“According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report, the highest number of atrocities against women occurred during his (Naveen) government’s tenure. There is no parallel to the horrific incidents that have occurred over the 24-year rule. And what will Naveen Babu say? Most of the child trafficking originated from Odisha, and many big leaders of his party were involved in this child trafficking. His saying such a thing is nothing short of ridiculous,” the BJP MLA expressed.

The exchange of accusations has intensified the political debate over women’s safety and empowerment in the State.