Dharmendra Says Spurt In Crime Against Women Tarnishing Odisha’s Image; BJD Counters

Bhubaneswar: Voicing concern over Odisha topping the list of crimes against women in the country, senior BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday said it has tarnished the image of the state.

Speaking at an extended executive body meeting of BJP state unit Mahila Morcha in Bhubaneswar, Dharmendra said the report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) shows that Odisha has earned the dubious distinction of recording maximum cases of crime against women. It has brought bad name to the state.

Stating that BJP women’s wing will intensify its agitation across the state in the coming days to oppose crime against women, he said the party will also ensure that the benefits of welfare schemes of the Central government reach the people of Odisha.

The Union Minister further alleged that many leaders of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), including Ministers and MLAs, are involved in scams, corruption, and other crimes.

This apart, more than 80 per cent of voters are keen to elect Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the third consecutive time in next elections as the BJP government at the Centre has launched many welfare schemes for women to make them self-reliant and empowered, said Dharmendra.

He said the Centre has implemented the Ujjwala Yojana, Mudra loan scheme, Soubhagya Scheme (Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana), Gramin Sauchalaya and Swajal Dhara Yojana.

Refuting the allegation made by Dharmendra, BJD leader Umakanta Samantray said that Odisha is the only state where top priority is being accorded to empowerment of women.

While the status of women has gone up substantially in the society, they are now become economically empowered and self-sufficient because of the steps taken by the BJD government, he said.