The Odisha unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on April 14 demanded a thorough probe into the allegations of ‘harassment’ levelled by a woman cadre belonging to the Biju Janata Dal, in opposition to State Labour Minister Srikanta Sahu.
“A woman was made to wait for 12 hours from 10 a.m. till midnight. The woman had come to file specific sexual harassment cases against Minister Sahu. Influential Ministers, party leaders and police officers persuaded her not to do so. But, neither was the Minister questioned nor a formal FIR registered in the police station,” alleged Lekhashree Samantsinghar, a senior BJP chief, addressing a press convention right here on April 14.
“The Bhubaneswar Police are trying to dilute the gravity of the situation, turning the allegation into a simple harassment case. Had there not been a sexual harassment charge, what was the need for a medical examination of the woman,” questioned Ms. Samantsinghar.
A woman had submitted a grievance in opposition to Mr. Sahu within the Bhubaneswar Mahila Police Station. The particular allegation is but to be ascertained.
When requested concerning the woman’s allegation, Prateek Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police of Bhubaneswar, mentioned, “The woman sat in the police station for long hours and seemed to be incoherent. After long hours of discussions with her near and dear ones, she submitted a written complaint. As per the complaint, she was working in close coordination with Labour and Employees’ State Insurance Department, and the Minister left behind an instruction in the department not to cooperate with her.”
“No cognisable offence is made out of the complaint. But, we had sent her for medical examination as per a precautionary measure. If the allegation is changed in due course of time, we would have the medical report with us,” mentioned Mr. Singh.
Faith in CM
Neither the woman nor the Minister was reachable for his or her feedback. While speaking to the media within the later hours on April 13, she additionally didn’t reveal something concerning the grievance. She solely mentioned that she had full religion in BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and the authorized system.
The BJP, in the meantime, stepped up its allegations saying the Naveen Patnaik authorities was detached to the woman’s plight. Former Minister of State for Home, Dibya Shankar Mishra was alleged to be concerned within the Mamita Meher homicide and there was a particular allegation of sexual harassment in opposition to Jagatsinghpur MLA Bijay Shankar Das. None of the BJD leaders was known as for questioning, charged BJP. The State BJP demanded the arrest of the State Labour Minister for ‘harassing’ a woman.
“If the allegation is changed in due course of time, we would have the medical report with us”Prateek SinghDeputy Commissioner of Police of Bhubaneswar
