BHUBANESWAR: The opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Friday strongly condemned the alleged assault, harassment and public humiliation of Chameli Ojha, sarpanch of Tikhiri panchayat under Mahakalpada block in Kendrapara district, terming it a serious attack on women’s dignity.
Addressing a press conference at Sankha Bhawan, BJD Rajya Sabha member Sulata Deo and former State Women’s Commission chairperson Minati Behera alleged that the BJP government’s claims of women empowerment stood exposed by the treatment meted out to the elected woman representative.
The BJD leaders referred to a letter purportedly written by Ojha to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, in which she levelled serious allegations against the local MLA and the block development officer (BDO). They also questioned the police’s handling of the incident, alleging that those seen snatching her mobile phone in a viral video have not yet been arrested.
Deo said when the chief minister claims that women’s empowerment is one of the government’s core objectives, the manner in which a BJP-supported elected woman representative has been subjected to assault has exposed the party’s double standards. She sought a high-level and impartial inquiry.