Bhubaneswar: With ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leaders facing dowry torture and sexual exploitation charges, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday lashed out at the Odisha government over its claims about working for empowerment of women.
Addressing a press meet in Bhubaneswar, state BJP Mahila Morcha president Smruti Pattnaik said the daughter-in-law of senior BJD MLA and former Minister Sashi Bhushan Behera has slapped a police complaint against her husband and in-laws alleging dowry torture and harassment.
Similarly, Adrija Manjari Singh has levelled domestic violence and dowry torture allegations against her husband Arkesh Narayan Singh Deo and in-laws. Arkesh is the son of BJD leader and former Minister Anang Udaya Singh Deo, she said.
This apart, BJD MLA Bijay Shankar Das is accused of sexual exploitation by a female friend, the senior BJP leader said these are only a few cases which show the real character of the ruling party and its leaders had. All these show that BJD’s claims about working for women empowerment is hollow and false, she said.
Coming down heavily on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over the issue, Pattnaik said the Chief Minister must aware of these allegations levelled against BJD leaders.
The senior BJP leader sought to know as to why the Chief Minister is is silent on the issue.
Attacking the ruling BJD in same vein, BJP state general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan alleged that many BJD leaders and workers are involved in all forms of crimes against women apart from dowry torture and domestic violence cases.
Serious allegations had been made against BJD leaders including Dibya Shankar Mishra, Shrikant Sahu and Samir Ranjan Dash, he said, adding Sahu and Dash were recently removed from the ministry by the Chief Minister.
Claiming that the ruling BJD is known for exploitation of women, Harichandan said people of Odisha know it very well that the ruling party is against women.
Alleging that women members of Self Help Groups (SHGs) are being exploited by BJD with false promises, the BJP leader women of the state will give a fitting reply to BJD in 2024 elections.
