Bhubaneswar: The Odisha BJP on Thursday slammed the state government, accusing it of applying different yardsticks while taking action against its own MLAs.
“The government seems to be following dual legal policy. While BJP MLA Subash Panigrahi was arrested on basis of a complaint lodged by the BDO without proper investigation, no action has been taken against BJD MLA Prakash Majhi even five days after allegations that he sexually abused a woman from Banki and threatened to kill her surfaced,” said general secretary of state BJP Lekhashree Samantasinghar.
She further alleged that police refused to register the woman’s complaint. “The whereabouts of the woman are not known. Police should clarify if she is safe,” she said, demanding immediate arrest of Majhi.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik also questioned the police inaction in this case. “Jharigaon BJD MLA Prakash Majhi had physically exploited a woman & threatened to kill her. Khandagiri police refused to file a complaint. This is CM Naveen’s model for women empowerment. Shame! Odisha Congress will not stop till the victim gets justice,” he tweeted.
On Wednesday, Congress workers held a rally and staged a protest at Jharigam Chhak. They also burnt an effigy of the MLA. A sit-in protest was also held in front of the Jharigaon police station demanding the arrest of the MLA.
The BJP workers led by Umerkote MLA Nityananda Gond had staged a protest before the block office demanding the arrest of the ruling party MLA on Tuesday.
