Pradhan blames Odisha Govt for 'lawlessness'

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday hit out at the Odisha Government for not punishing the party workers involved in crime against women in the state.

Pradhan, while taking at the 54th birth anniversary of late Congress leader Lalatendu Bidyadhara Mohapatra here, said, "Why the government is having a soft stand for the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) party workers who molested a woman for hurling an egg at the Chief Minister in Balasore recently? It seems the ruling BJD government is all set to gag the media, opposition parties, tribal's, Dalits and women in the state," Pradhan said.

"Instead of giving justice to Kunduli Rape Victim, the government chose to destroy the evidence and shame her," he added.

A few days back, Mohapatra's daughter and brother joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in presence of Pradhan. His outfit 'Lulu Sena' also joined hands with the party.

Mohapatra was elected from Brahmagiri in the years 1995, 2000 and 2004.

He died last year in November.