The Congress on Friday thanked the people of the State, party workers besides students, youths, farmers, women and the trade union wing of the party for making the six-hour Odisha Bandh (Hartal) call a success, which was called by the party in protest against the State Government’s alleged attempt to cover up the Mamita Meher murder case.
Congress State working president Chiranjib Biswal said that instead of dropping Minister of State for Home Dibya Shankar Mishra for his alleged involvement in the Mamita case, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is protecting him and sharing dais with him. “That’s why we demand resignation of the Chief Minister and our struggle would continue until Mamita’s family gets justice,” Biswal said.
Party leaders claimed that despite attempts of the BJD and the Government mechanism to foil the bandh, it was quite successful with people’s support.
They said the party has decided to take the Mamita battle to next level. “If required, we will take it to the Orissa High Court as on the HC’s direction we observed the bandh as hartal.
Former PCC president Jayadev Jena alleged that during the BJD regime, atrocities against women are on the increase. Party national secretary Sarat Rout said lawyers who fought against the bandh call in the High Court are members of the BJD Legal Cell. Party MLA Santosh Singh Saluja said the Mamita issue would be raised in the next session of the State Assembly.
“The Chief Minister who was sparing no time to take action over any kind of accusations against his Ministers is now silent on the Mamita case,” he said.