Women SHGs Ill-Treated In Odisha, BJP Counters Naveen Patnaik’s ‘Show Some Decency’ Remarks

Bhubaneswar: A day after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik asked the opposition to show decency and refrain from disrespecting women during election campaigns, the BJP on Sunday sought proof of the allegation from the ruling party.

Speaking to the media, BJP state general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan said that he doubts if the CM knows the definition of respect or disrespect. “Naba Kishore Das’ murder clearly reflected the lawlessness and state of governance in the state. The killing continues to be a mystery as the investigating agency is yet to ascertain the motive behind it. If BJP raising this issue during the bypoll is being termed as disrespect to any woman then the CM needs to brush up his vocabulary,” he said.

The BJP leader further clarified that the party has not shied away from congratulating Deepali Das for her victory in Jharsuguda bypoll but the party’s concern over law and order situation in the state remains. “The questions were raised not to hurt the family of Naba Das but for people of Odisha as the incident clearly reflect the prevailing lawlessness in the state,” he added.

He further that said the self-help group concept was introduced by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to empower women economically and socially and make them self-reliant. “The Naveen Patnaik government, however. is using women for political gain. Government officers are threatening to stop loans and delink SHG groups from Mission Shakti if concerned members do not attend BJD meetings,” he alleged.

Harichandan claimed that only 20,000 to 3,000 of 7 lakh SHGs are getting work. “Is this not disrespect to women?” he asked.

The BJD, on the other hand, said that there is enough proof of “demeaning, insulting, misogynist and dishonouring personalised remarks” against BJD candidates in Padampur and Jharsuguda and people of Odisha have given a befitting reply to the BJP for it in the two bypolls.