Naveen Patnaik Under Attack Over Remarks On Odisha ‘Custody Torture’ Episode

Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Odisha Assembly Naveen Patnaik has come under sharp attack from several leaders over his remarks on the alleged assault on an Army officer and his fiancée inside Bharatpur Police Station in Bhubaneswar.

Coming down heavily on the BJD chief for pointing accusing fingers at the BJP government, Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo on Saturday termed Naveen’s his 24-year tenure as Chief Minister as a period of lawlessness, violence against women and failure of state machinery.

Asserting that the Mohan Majhi government has taken prompt action in the case by suspending five police officials and entrusting the Crime Branch with the charge of the investigation.

Ridiculing Naveen for demanding a judicial probe into the Bharatpur police station episode, the Deputy CM sought to know as to why reports of 24 Judicial Commissions instituted during 24 years of BJD rule are yet to be made public.

“The Naveen Patnaik government had constituted 24 judicial commissions of inquiry to probe various cases. The reports have not been made public so far. Had sincerely tried he could have made a violence-free Odisha in 24 years,” he said.

Singh Deo alleged that the former CM failed to give justice to people during his tenure.
He, however, thanked Naveen for coming to the media for the first time to register his protest against an incident. Singh Deo also referred to the daylight gunning down of Naba Das, the then Minister, and said Naveen remained silent on the issues. Now he has come forward to register his protest in an incident where BJP government has taken prompt action.

Attacking Naveen in same vein, former BJD leader Soumya Ranjan Patnaik said it is not appropriate to conclude that the law and order situation has deteriorated in last 100 days just because of one incident. “We have to give more time to this newly formed government,” he said.

Stating that he does represent any political party now, Patnaik said those who were in hibernation during their rule for 24 years have come out of their holes and holding press conferences.
“It seems they have forgotten what they had done in 24 years. Let us give time to Mohan Majhi government till December,” he said.

Notably, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari had also reacted sharply to Naveen’s demand for a judicial inquiry into the alleged assault of the Army officer and molestation of his fiancée at Bharatpur police station.

The former CM had even claimed that the incident was a consequence of stopping pro-people initiative ‘Mo Sarkar’ of the previous BJD regime and inaction in connection with the assault case, involving the son of Governor Raghubar Das.

“Had Naveen Patnaik understood this when he was the CM, the state would not have witnessed atrocities against women. You did not follow ‘rajdharma’ (duty) during your regime. What happened in Nayagarh Pari, Puri-based doctor Madhabilata Pradhan and Babina case? Hundreds of women were tortured and allegations were also levelled against BJD leaders, but no action was taken,” said Pujari, adding that they are now trying to impart lessons to 100-day-old BJP government.

He further stated that the atrocities would not have happened had the former CM and his government worked efficiently.

While assuring stringent action against the perpetrators “no matter how powerful an individual”, the Minister scoffed at the judicial probe demand. “24 judicial commissions were set up during the tenure of the BJD government and not a single commission report has been made public till now,” he said.