BJP,Congress Demands Removal of Odisha Minister in Woman ‘Harassment’
Odishabarta
Bhubaneswar/Berhampur,14,15/04/23:The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday demanded the resignation of Odisha Labour Minister Srikanta Sahu after a female ruling-Biju Janata Dal (BJD) member filed a complaint against him at Mahila Police Station.
As per reports, complainant Sanjukta Mahal went to the Mahila Police Station in Bhubaneswar on Thursday around 11 AM. At around 4 PM the police took her to the Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar for examination.
The police then brought her back to the police station at around 8:30 PM. That is when she informed the media that she has filed a complaint against Odisha Labour Minister, Srikanta Sahu and she has faith in Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to give her justice.
“I do not fear anybody nor do I wish to negotiate at any cost. My complaint is against Labour Minister Srikanta Sahu. I have full faith in the law and party president Naveen Patnaik that they will give me justice,” said Mahal while coming out of the hospital with police.
However, when Mahal finally came out of the police station at around midnight, she refused to comment anything on her allegations, raising concerns that she might have been pressurised to keep mum.
The police neither made any statement on this sensitive issue nor the Minister was interrogated on the basis of the allegation levelled at the woman, she claimed. “As Sahu is a Minister, is he above the law (?)” asked the BJP leader.
As it is a matter of a woman, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik should immediately remove Sahu from his portfolio, BJP demanded.
Lekhashree Samantsinghar,BJP state spokes person sought the arrest of the Minister. Otherwise, the life of the victim might be at risk (!).
The Congress too came down hard on the BJD. Demanding the ouster of Sahu from the party, former Congress MLA Debasis Patnaik said, “Srikanta Sahu should be expelled from the party immediately
Responding to the demands of BJP and Congress, BJD MLA, Bhagirathi Sethi said,
Chief Minister is reviewing the allegation made by the complainant against Minister.It will not be good to take action on the whimsical demands of the Opposition before studying the case thoroughly.”
While talking to the media on Thursday, complainant Sanjukta Mahal the complainant had not revealed that she has allegations against Srikanta Sahu only (!!).,Saying it as her personal matter.Sanjukta further said that she had full faith in BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and the legal system.
Reacting to this issue, senior BJD leader Ramesh Chandra Chyau Patnaik said “As a woman has lodged a complaint, a thorough investigation is needed to know the truth.”
In this regard Today at 11 AM while we interacted over phone on this with Srikanta Sahu ,he said very soon “I shall tell before the Press on this allegation”, Please wait (!).
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