Harassment Slur On Odisha Minister: BJP Seeks Clarification From Govt On Viral Video

Bhubaneswar: Continuing its tirade against the BJD government, the BJP on Tuesday sought clarification on the harassment allegation against a minister from southern Odisha.

Citing a viral video, general secretary of the saffron party in the state Golak Mohapatra alleged that a woman had attempted suicide when police refused to register a complaint against the minister. “The woman had gone to a police station, but her FIR was not accepted. Later, the matter was mutually settled following a call from ‘third floor’ is what we have been told. The government must clarify who that minister is,” he said. 

Mohapatra also referred to the case pertaining to a BJD MLA, accused of cheating a woman, in which a fresh FIR was registered under relevant sections including 376 (punishment for rape), 313 (causing miscarriage without women’s consent), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code only after the Orissa High Court intervened.

This came a day after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan mentioned about a video of a minister’s wrongdoings doing the rounds on the internet and the suicide attempt by the harassed woman, during a press briefing.

The Congress too has demanded an explanation from the government on the issue. “The BJD and its chief Naveen Patnaik have failed to control their ministers and MLAs. The recent social media posts and the viral video has brought bad name to the state and the Assembly as well. The government should come clean on it as soon as possible,” said Congress spokesperson Nishikant Mishra.

The BJD, however, refused to comment on the issue.“I am not aware of the contents of the viral video. All I say is that we should not attack anybody’s character without any proof,” said, BJD MLA Sudhir Samal.