Bhubaneswar: Senior BJP leader and Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday dared Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for a CBI probe into the much-talked-about suicide of a minor rape victim in Koraput district.
“You are unaware of the pain in the hearts of the people of Odisha as you are in a state of intoxication under the influence of power. The curse of the people will fall on you,” he said while gracing the ‘Maan Ki Baat’ programme at Sikharchandi in the city here.
Referring to the Kunduli suicide case, Pradhan said similar incident had recently taken place in Haryana and the government, in order to ensure free and fair probe, had ordered a CBI probe into the incident. But the Odisha government is yet to institute a CBI probe into this most shocking and tragic incident as it is trying its best to hush up the matter.
“If you have the guts and morality, let the CBI be asked to probe into the incident,” Pradhan dared the Chief Minister.
Talking about the attempt made by the then Congress government to hush up the sensational Anjana Mishra gang rape case by tampering the forensic report, he said the present government has made a similar attempt in this case.
Stating that the state government has taken aggressive stance since allegations have been brought against the Chief Minister and the Director General of Police (DGP) for being insensitive to this incident, Pradhan wondered if atrocity, rape and molestation of women are the ideals of the Chief Minister.
“Had Biju Babu dreamt of these ideals? The people Odisha are worried as their savior (state government) has become a predator,” he pointed out.
Refuting Pradhan’s allegations, senior BJD leader and government chief whip Amar Prasad Satpathy said the people of Odisha know very well who is enjoying the power.
Making a statement on the CBI probe demand into the Kunduli suicide case by the BJP leader, he said the Central Investigating agency had fruitless investigations into some cases in Odisha including the death of Tikiri Upper Primary School lady teacher Itishree Pradhan.
Considering the above, there is no point in ordering a CBI probe into the incident. “The state government has ordered a judicial probe that would be fair and impartial and the accused involved in the case will be punished,” he maintained.
