Odisha Elections: BJD-BJP War Of Words Over ECI Postponing SHG Women’s Dubai Visit

Bhubaneswar: A war of words erupted between the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over postponement of a proposed visit of members of women self-help groups (SHG) to Dubai ahead of the twin elections in Odisha.

While BJD leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sulata Deo blamed Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for cancellation of the visit by the Election Commission of India (ECI), BJP accused the ruling party of questioning the decision of the poll panel, a constitutional body.

Addressing a press meet in Bhubaneswar, Sulata Deo said a a group of SHG members was to proceed on a visit to Dubai as part of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s vision for empowerment of women by providing them with global exposure.

However, the move was scuttled as Dharmendra moved a petition before the ECI on March 27 following which the proposed visit has been deferred, she claimed.

Accusing Dharmendra and BJP of working against the interest of women, the BJP leader said several women from Sambalpur, from where the Union Minister is seeking election to Lok Sabha, were also slated to visit Dubai as part of the programme.

She alleged that the Union Minister is putting hurdles in the way of empowering and skilling women in the state because of intolerance and said the people of Odisha will give a fitting reply to him in the upcoming polls.

Refuting the allegations made by Sulata as false and misleading, BJP state secretary Kasturi Mishra said the BJD MP made baseless claims by suppressing facts. The BJD leader should have stated that the proposed visit of SHG women was to be funded by OTDC.

Stating that allurement in any form at the time of elections is violative of the Representation of People Act, 1951, she said there are penal provisions for flouting the law.

Stating that the move to send the SHG women to Dubai ahead of the elections was against the model code of conduct laid down by the ECI, the BJP leader said the ECI got the programme postponed after it learnt about it.

Instead of telling the truth, Sulata Deo is misleading people by giving false information, Mishra said, adding that by opposing the decision the BJD leader is trying to question the authority of the ECI.