The BJP on Tuesday hit the streets across the State in protest against the forcible removal of black stoles, scarves and shawls worn by women at the venue of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s recent meeting in Sundargarh district.
The party also lodged a petition at the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) seeking its intervention.
As part of its State-wide stir, the party activists staged dharnas in front of block and civic body offices. The BJP Mahila Morcha State unit lodged the complaint with the OHRC.
Mahila Morcha president Prabhati Parida in the written complaint with the OHRC alleged that police and BJD workers forcibly removed black stoles, scarves and shawls worn by women at the venue of the Chief Minister’s meeting in Sundargarh on Sunday.
“When women had asked police about their disrespectful act, the police stated that it was done at the instructions of the Chief Minister. Such misbehaviour to women will not be tolerated in a civic society,” said Parida
She claimed that the removal of black stoles/scarves/shawls from the bodies of the women has violated their fundamental rights and the comments on clothes of women in public have infringed upon their human rights.
Terming the incidence as an insult to womankind, Parida urged the OHRC to register her complaint and suitably act against the persons guilty of insulting women.
Meanwhile, wearing black sarees Mahila Congress activists staged protest near Master Canteen Square demanding an apology from the CM.