Naveen Strongly Condemns BJP MLA’s Derogatory Remarks Against BJD Woman Leader

Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President and Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Assembly, Naveen Patnaik, today strongly condemned the derogatory remarks made by BJP MLA Santosh Khatua against a senior BJD woman leader, calling them “extremely unfortunate and utterly unacceptable.”

In a statement, Naveen said that attempting to malign a woman’s character in public discourse as a form of political retaliation reflects a “perverse mentality” and is aimed at silencing women’s voices in politics. “It sends a message that women should remain silent—a dangerous mindset that has no place in a civilised society,” LoP Naveen said.

What makes the matter worse, Naveen noted, is the “profound silence” of BJP leadership on the issue. “Not a single BJP leader has condemned the MLA’s reprehensible comments or held him accountable. This silence reveals the true stance of the ruling party when it comes to women’s dignity,” he added.

The BJD supremo expressed concern over the deteriorating standards of political discourse in Odisha.

“It is rare for our political culture to stoop to such a shameful level. Hearing such derogatory words from an elected representative is not just intolerable, but inhumane,” he said.

Calling for collective accountability, Naveen urged all conscious citizens of the state to recognise the true face of those who harbor such perverse and anti-women mindsets while holding constitutional positions.

“Let us, beyond party lines, unite and stand against such toxic behavior. If we fail to act now, we fail our daughters and mothers,” Naveen concluded.

Notably, ruling BJP MLA Santosh Khatua has courted controversy after allegedly making ‘derogatory’ remarks against BJD leader Lekha Samantsinghar.