Will Odisha Govt Wake up from Deep Slumber and Take Speedy Action: Naveen on Balanga Incident

Bhubaneswar: BJD President and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Naveen Patnaik expressed deep anguish over the recent incident of a girl student being set on fire in Puri’s Balanga area.

The BJD President has condemned the recent spate of violent incidents against women in Odisha, highlighting a disturbing trend of escalating crimes and systemic governance failures.

Taking to his ‘X’ handle, Naveen wrote, “Deeply anguished to know that a young girl was set on fire in Balanga area of Puri District. This attempt to kill her happened in broad daylight. I strongly condemn this horrible act”.

It has happened just within a week of the terrible incident of a young girl setting herself ablaze in FM College after she was denied justice–even after knocking on every door, and a month after the horrific incident in Gopalpur, the BJD President said.

Such unthinkable incidents against women are now being reported almost daily across Odisha. These are not stray cases of violence. These incidents occurring with shocking regularity point to a deep systemic failure of governance. It shows that criminals have become emboldened under the present government and are not worried about being punished.

It shows how Odisha is becoming highly unsafe for women due to government inaction and political patronage, Naveen said.

“Will the Odisha Govt wake up from this deep slumber and take speedy action so that the criminals are arrested? And more importantly will the government respond so that such incidents are not repeated? The girls and women of Odisha await a response”, LoP Naveen stated.