As Opposition parties step up campaign against Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over the death of lady teacher Itishree Pradhan, allegations that BJD MP from Koraput Jayram Pangi had harboured the accused persons has landed him in further embarrassment.
This is not for the first time that allegations were made against senior BJD leaders for their alleged involvement in high profile cases of crime against women.
Fingers were raised against senior ruling party politicians in the Babina rape and murder case in Pipili and death of Ayush doctor Madhabilata in Puri.
While the State Congress has demanded Naveen Patnaik’s resignation over the incident, the Odisha Jana Morcha (OJM) has sought a CBI probe into the alleged involvement of ruling party members in giving protection to the criminals.
The Chief Minister is trying to suppress the case by announcing compensation for the family members of the victim, OJM president Pyarimohan Mohapatra alleged at a media conference here on Saturday.
“Announcement of compensation has become a pattern leading one to believe that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is trying to protect the suspected BJD leaders by bribing the family members of the victims in every case,” he said.
Naveen has failed as a Home Minister and he should hand over the portfolio to some competent person in his party, Pyari said and alleged that all forms of crime have flourished under the BJD Government.
Pyari also demanded that BJD MLAs, councillors and leaders involved in the loot of relief materials in Cuttack should be arrested immediately. Countering the statement of the inter-ministerial central team (IMCT), the OJM president alleged that relief materials did not reach many places.
Referring to the certificate given by the United Nations to the State Government for handling the cyclone, the OJM president said more than 70 per cent people had shifted to safer places on their own.
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