The BJP State Mahila Morcha strongly condemned the police excesses on its member while they were staging a rally here on Friday demanding total prohibition of liquor in the State.
Over 2,000 members of the Morcha from all districts across the State took out a procession from the party State office towards the Assembly. Meanwhile, police forces intercepted them and allegedly made lathicharge on them, resulting in injuries to hundreds of them, including Morcha president Simantini Jena. Moreover, over a hundred of women workers were arrested by the police.
“As per the WHO report, the annual health expense of people consuming alcohol in Odisha is Rs 1 lakh crore, a lot more than the State’s annual budget. However, the State Government is yet to implement the Prohibition Act-1956 on the pretext of loss of revenue of Rs 2,000 crore,” said Morcha general secretary Pratima Mishra.
Among others, MlA Radharani Panda, Gobinda Dash, BJP vice-president Surama Padhee and secretary Niyati Giri led the protest.