Bhubaneswar: BJD chief Naveen Patnaik on Sunday accused the BJP government in Odisha of failing to ensure women’s safety, citing a rise in crimes against women under its rule.
Addressing the party’s women leaders and members on the occasion of International Women’s Day, Patnaik said the BJD, following the ideology of former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik, had taken major steps for women’s empowerment when in power.
“Under the BJP government, atrocities against women are increasing, and no one is listening to them. This is a total failure of leadership,” he said.
Patnaik, also the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, added that the BJD will continue to fight for women’s security, dignity, and empowerment. He described Biju Patnaik as a torchbearer of women’s empowerment in India.
Responding to Patnaik, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida said the Mohan Charan Majhi-led government is committed to women’s safety.
Parida criticised the BJD chief, saying, “People changed the government because he failed to provide security to women during his 24-year tenure. If we start counting cases of crimes against women under the BJD government, the list would be very long.”
She further challenged Patnaik, adding, “Let the Leader of the Opposition cite a case during our tenure in which the accused was not arrested within 48 hours.”
