The BJP Mahila Morcha on Sunday held the State Government, including the Dhenkanal district administration, responsible for the running of an illegal shelter home at Balatikiri in Dhenkanal district, where many girls were subjected to sexual harassment, and demanded that Woman and Child Welfare Minister Prafulla Samal resign forthwith.
“The illegal shelter home was operating at 10 km distant from the Collectorate and SP office for the last 10 years. How the administration could not know about the shelter home run by the Good News India. The Minister, the Chief Minister and the district administration are all responsible for harassment meted out to girls,” said BJP Mahila president Pravati Parida, who led a team to Baltikiri to take stock of the situation.
Parida alleged that the district administration didn’t allow her and her team members to meet victims. “The illegal shelter home was operating under the very nose of the administration. Why and under whose pressure the district Collector was sitting silent. Who told him not to allow us to meet victims,” wanted to know Parida.
Among others, former Minister Surama Padhi, vice-president Sukeshi Oram, secretary Lekhashree Samantsinghar, Mahila Morcha State secretary Rashmirekha Das and Dhenkanal president Niroj Nalini Mohanty accompanied Parida.
However, terming the Dhenkanal illegal shelter home issue as a very sensitive one, the BJD on Sunday said the BJP is doing cheap politics on the issue to take mileage ahead of general elections.
The police have sealed the shelter home and arrested its managing director. While the State Government has already rehabilitated the inmates, it is disappointing that the BJP is politicizing the sensitive issue. The BJP should refrain from doing cheap politics on the future of the tiny children,” said BJD spokesperson Dr Sasmit Patra in a statement.