Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) today launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Odisha government, accusing it of a complete failure in maintaining law and order and ensuring the safety of women and children across the state.
At a press conference held at Shankha Bhawan, senior BJD leaders expressed grave concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in Odisha over the past year. Party Vice President and MLA Smt. Pramila Mallik, along with Senior General Secretaries Smt. Snehangini Chhuria, Smt. Tukuni Sahu, Smt. Rajashree Mallik, General Secretary Smt. Sharmistha Sethy, and Bhubaneswar Mayor Smt. Sulochana Das, were present.
The BJD leaders contended that despite assuming power on “false promises,” the BJP government has failed to deliver good governance, opting instead to spread “false propaganda.” They specifically highlighted a sharp rise in incidents of violence against women.
“It would have been better if the Prime Minister visited Odisha after ensuring the law-and-order situation was brought under control,” stated Smt. Mallik, referring to recent visits by the Prime Minister. She further demanded that the Prime Minister personally review the state’s law and order conditions and take immediate steps for improvement.
Smt. Mallik added, “He may come and go, but the law-and-order situation here remains unchanged. Crimes against women and children are increasing day by day, yet the state government continues to boast about fake achievements. The BJP’s slogan of ‘Odia Asmita’ (Odia pride) has turned into a mockery.”
Smt. Snehangini Chhuria sarcastically remarked on the BJP’s “One Year, Many Achievements” slogan, pointing out that Odisha’s ranking as eighth among states with the highest crime rates is a more accurate “achievement.” She asserted that eight of the top ten crime-prone states are currently ruled by the BJP.
The BJD leaders underscored a significant increase in serious crimes like rape, abduction, and murder over the past year in Odisha. Data provided in the State Assembly reportedly shows more than 3,054 rape cases were reported in the last year alone, which, according to the BJD, clearly indicates an unsafe environment for women and children.
A key point of contention raised by the BJD was the alleged ineffectiveness of dedicated women and child desks in police stations. Under former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s tenure, over 600 such desks were established. However, the BJD claims these are “no longer functioning effectively,” making it difficult for victims to file complaints and leading to “fearless” criminals.
The BJD leaders warned the state government to “wake up from its slumber” and take immediate action to restore law and order. They threatened to escalate their protest to the streets if the situation does not improve soon.