Odisha BJP Mahila Morcha Demands Sacking Of Minister For Disclosing Sexually Abused Victims

14 March, Bhubaneswar

The Odisha unit of BJP Saturday demanded an unconditional apology from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and removal of state ST/SC Development Minister Lal Bihari Himrika for disclosing the names of minor girl victims who were sexually abused and made pregnant in the government run schools.

Talking to newspersons here, BJP Mahila Morcha president Simantini Jena said the Minister had violated the court guidelines by disclosing the names of the sexually abused victims and had no moral rights to hold the post. They demanded the Chief Minister to tender an unconditional apology for the incident and dismiss Himrika from the council of Ministers for such act.

Himrika had cause much embarrassment to the BJDgovernment by disclosing the names of the five minor tribalgirl victims who were sexually abused and had deliveredchild while staying in the government run schools in the state.

Replying to a written question of BJP MLA Dilip Ray, the ST/SC Development Minister made the faux pas by divulging the name in the minor girl victims who were sexually abused and became pregnant. All these girls were the student of the residential schools run by the ST and SC Development department.

Himrika said at least five minor school girls of the residential schools became pregnant in the last three years and the state government had already initiated action against the school teachers and the hostel authorities.

The BJP leader said it was more shocking that the ST/SC development minister had disclosed the name of the minor tribal girl victim subjected sexual assault.

This was a clear case of criminal offence and action should be initiated against the minister and he should be dropped from the Council of Ministers forthwith.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also taken serious note of the incident and sought an action taken report from the ST/SC Development Department on the issue