BJD president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik has launched a sharp attack on the BJP government in Odisha, highlighting the rising crimes against women and the weakening of law and order.
Patnaik pointed to recent incidents, including the abduction and gang rape of a minor girl in Baghamari, Khordha district, and the brutal assault on a young woman by members of a Self-Help Group (SHG) in Aranji village, Bhadrak district, over unpaid loan instalments. These events, Patnaik said, raise serious questions about women’s safety in the state.
In a post on his X account, Patnaik expressed outrage, stating that such incidents expose the government’s complete failure in ensuring women’s protection. He described the Bhadrak case—where a young woman was publicly beaten in the village by SHG members after her mother’s death left her unable to pay dues—as unacceptable in a civilised society.
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Patnaik contrasted this with the BJD era, when the Mission Shakti program empowered women to climb the ladder of success and build their own identities. “Under the BJP government, women have become the most unsafe, and development has come to a standstill,” he wrote.
ଖୋର୍ଦ୍ଧା ବାଘମାରୀରେ ନାବାଳିକାଙ୍କୁ ଅପହରଣ ଏବଂ ଗଣଦୁଷ୍କର୍ମ ଘଟଣା ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ସ୍ପର୍ଶକାତର ଏବଂ ହୃଦୟବିଦାରକ।
ସେହିପରି ଭଦ୍ରକ ଅରଞ୍ଜିରେ ମା’ର ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ପରେ କିସ୍ତି ଟଙ୍କା ପାଇଁ ଜଣେ ଯୁବତୀଙ୍କୁ ଗାଁ ଦାଣ୍ଡରେ ଏସଏଚଜିର ମହିଳାମାନେ ନିସ୍ତୁକ ମାଡ଼ ମାରିବା ପରି ଘଟଣା ସଭ୍ୟ ସମାଜରେ କଦାପି ଗ୍ରହଣୀୟ ନୁହେଁ। ବିଜୁ ଜନତା ଦଳର ସରକାର…
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) November 23, 2025
Patnaik further noted that the increasing atrocities and rapes against women in Odisha are causing widespread distress. He urged the government to wake up from its slumber and take the strictest possible action against the culprits without delay.
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