11 hours ago
BJD, Cong stir against ‘rise' in crimes against women; BJP hits back
Bhubaneswar: Opposition
BJD
and Congress on Wednesday staged separate demonstrations, protesting against alleged rise in crimes against women. Members of Youth Congress attempted to gherao chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi's residence, leading to a scuffle with police.
When cops stopped the Congress members on the AG Square-Raj Bhavan route, preventing their approach towards the CM's residence, the protesters hurled eggs and tomatoes.
"Law and order has collapsed in the state. The recent Gopalpur beach and Keonjhar gang rapes, and inhumane assault on two dalits in Ganjam speak volumes of the state's lawlessness. We demand the chief minister's resignation," said Ranjit Patra, president of Odisha Pradesh Youth Congress (OPYC).
The party's national functionaries, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, earlier took to social media, slamming the state govt over the recent gang rape and dalit assault cases.
BJD's youth and student wings organised protests outside various educational institutes across the state against the alleged increase in cases of crimes against women. BJD members alleged the state govt has failed to ensure safety of women.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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"Today, Odisha has become the most unsafe place for women with incidents of rape, murder, kidnapping and other crimes soaring," BJD MLA and youth wing state president Byomakesh Ray said.
BJP hit back at the allegations and said the law and order situation during the tenures of Congress and BJD govts was worrisome and alarming. "Many sensational rape, murder and rape and murder cases occurred under the Congress and BJD govts.
While their govts sat silent, our govt is taking stern measures against criminals. Our govt has a zero tolerance policy against crimes and criminals," Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) state unit president Abhilash Panda said.
Odisha police data revealed that crimes against women decreased by 2.5% over 10 months from June 2024 to April 2025 compared to June 2023 to April 2024. Altogether 28,800 crimes against women were reported during June 2024 to April 2025, compared to 29,539 cases between June 2023 and April 2024, data showed.
