Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has launched a strong attack on the BJP-led government in Odisha, highlighting the alarming rise in crimes against women and girls across Odisha and questioning whether the rule of law still exists in the state.
In a pointed post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, Patnaik expressed deep distress over repeated heinous incidents, specifically referencing disturbing reports from Kanhar in Angul district, Kuchinda in Sambalpur, and the Paradip area. He noted that women and girls — from minors to differently-abled young women — no longer feel safe anywhere in the state.
ଆଉ କେତେ ଝଡ଼ିବ ନିରୀହ ଜୀବନ? ନାବାଳିକାଙ୍କଠୁ ନେଇ ଭିନ୍ନକ୍ଷମ ଯୁବତୀ କେହି ବି ନୁହେଁ ସୁରକ୍ଷିତ। ରାଜ୍ୟରେ ଚାଲିଛି ତ ଆଇନର ଶାସନ?
ଅନୁଗୋଳର କଣିହାଁ, ସମ୍ବଲପୁରର କୁଚିଣ୍ଡା ଏବଂ ପାରାଦ୍ବୀପ ଅଞ୍ଚଳରୁ ଆସୁଥିବା ଦୁଷ୍କର୍ମର ଖବର ବିଚଳିତ କରିଦେଉଛି। ସବୁଆଡ଼େ ଅରାଜକତା, ସବୁଠି ଅସୁରକ୍ଷିତ ମା’ଭଉଣୀ।
ନାରୀ ସୁରକ୍ଷା, ଆଇନଶୃଙ୍ଖଳା ନେଇ…
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) February 27, 2026
The full translated text of Patnaik’s post reads:
“How many more innocent lives will be lost? From minors to differently-abled young women, no one is safe. Is the rule of law prevailing in the state?
The news of heinous crimes coming from Kanhar in Angul, Kuchinda in Sambalpur, and the Paradip area is disturbing. There is anarchy everywhere, and mothers and sisters are unsafe everywhere.
While the government is giving long speeches on women’s safety and law and order, the actual situation is extremely worrying. There is an atmosphere of fear even in broad daylight.
Even as such heinous crimes like rape are happening repeatedly, the government’s failure to take any exemplary, strict action is increasing the audacity of criminals.
The government should be proactive in spreading awareness regarding women’s safety and maintain the rule of law in the state. #BJDWithOdisha”
