Bhubaneswar: The woman’s wing of BJP today questioned Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s “silence” on the attack on a woman officer, allegedly by the ruling BJD’s MLA Prashant Jagdev.
Demanding action against the erring legislator, the activists of BJP Mahila Morcha launched a protest against the assault of the Bolgarh woman tehsildar. The members of the Morcha covered their mouths with black cloths and carried out a silent march.
“Why chief minister, who is also in-charge of the home department silent over the matter. A woman officer has openly through television media has said that the MLA assaulted her.
But, still the chief minister is silent,” BJP Mahila Morcha state president Pravati Parida said.
The Morcha also ridiculed the BJD’s popular slogan on “women empowerment”. If an on-duty tehsildar is not secure, how a common woman can be safe? actor-turned politician Pinki Pradhan wondered.
Meanwhile, Jagdev, who has denied charges against him, is finding it difficult to cope with the situation as members of the ruling party also do not support him.
BJD Spokesperson Samir Dash said the issue has come to the notice of the party president.
Though the woman officer was yet to lodge any complaint at the police station, a delegation of the Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) Association met her at Bolagarh.