Demanding a probe into dowry torture charges against former minister Raghunath Mohanty and his family, the Congress on Friday said 'disrespect to women is in ruling BJD's DNA'.
"It is shocking. This case is symptomatic of a deeper malaise that afflicts the ruling party __ an utter disrespect for women. Disrespect to women is in the ruling BJD's DNA," Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik said.
Citing a series of crimes against women in the State, the Congress leader said the dowry case against Mohanty was another glaring example. He said the Congress had on Thursday expressed shock over the rape and burning alive of a 17-year-old Dalit girl in Mathatentulia village under Gondia police limits in Dhenkanal district.
"I once again condemn the incident as barbaric and mindless act which shall put entire humanity to shame," Niranjan said and asked the State Government to take immediate steps to arrest the culprits and try them through a special fast track court.
Claiming that the security and safety of women was a serious concern, Niranjan alleged that the Odisha Government did not seem to be learning from past experiences.
Referring to the rape and murder of a Dalit woman at Pipili which had shocked the entire State, the OPCC president said the police had refused to register an FIR and doctors had declined to provide medical care.
Stating that the High Court forced the Government after a month to act in this case and the girl died after remaining in coma for four months, Niranjan said Odisha is a case where the crime rate against women has been rising.