Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the Naveen Patnaik government alleging the State of having poor record pertaining to women safety.
He urged the government to reinvestigate an alleged seven-year-old gang rape case, in which the accused were exonerated recently. “Odisha should avail benefits of programmes being executed by the Centre. It is sad that the State government is not serious about safety of girls and women. Despite being in power for two decades, the Patnaik government has lagged behind others in health, safety and employment for girls and women,” Mr. Modi said at a public meeting here.
“The Centre has made provisions up to capital punishment for those who perpetrate violence against our daughters. However, there is a question mark when it comes to safety of daughters in Odisha,” he charged.
“The State government has not been able to give justice to the girl who had faced violence seven to eight years ago in Puri. I urge the government to reinvestigate the case to send a strong message to people who carry out violence against girls and women,” Mr. Modi said.
Women cadres of both the BJP and the Congress have been carrying out demonstrations against the State Agriculture Minister Pradeep Matharathy for his reported statement supporting the acquittal of the two accused in the said rape case.
“One of the brightest examples of changing intention and policy is Mission Indradhanush. It had been going on for decades. Till 2014, the immunisation coverage had not touched even 60%. It would have taken a few more decades if the programme was executed with the same pace. Over 2.75 crore children and 85 lakh pregnant women were immunised in India. Odisha has only five lakh children and 1.5 lakh women among them,” the Prime Minister said.
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