Odisha Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy resigned after sparking a controversy for his remarks on the acquittal of the accused in a gangrape-and-murder case of 2011-2012, sources said.
“Maharathy has sent his resignation letter to the Chief Minister’s Office. He has resigned on moral grounds,” a source in the CMO said. Maharathy said he tendered resignation on his own and there was no pressure on him to step down. “I have high respect for the CM and the BJD. I resigned voluntarily to ensure there is no pressure on the party,” he told reporters.
The development came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing a public meeting at Baripada on Saturday, accused the Odisha Government of not being serious about the welfare of women and girls and urged it to re-investigate the Pipili gangrape-and-murder case.
“This (State) Government failed to give justice to a girl in an incident that took place 7 to 8 years ago in Puri. It is natural that women and girls are angry over laxity in investigation into the case for which the victim has been denied justice,” Modi said at the BJP rally.