Bhubaneswar, September 30 (IANS). Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the previous Naveen Patnaik-led ‘Biju Janata Dal’ government on the issue of malnutrition.
Speaking at a membership campaign program at Barchana in Jajpur district, the Chief Minister targeted the opposition BJD, pointing to the issue of deaths due to malnutrition in Nagda village of Jajpur district in Odisha during the new government in 2016.
The Chief Minister said that Nagada village has been in the news due to the death of more than 15 children of the tribal community, one of the particularly vulnerable tribal groups, which has attracted the attention of Odisha and the entire country.
“However, the previous BJD government could not bring about a change in the situation there. They started many schemes and sanctioned funds for it, but could not develop the village, where the situation still remains the same,” the Chief Minister alleged. “
He alleged that the previous government failed to bring development in the village, but was busy creating vote banks to win the elections. They (BJD government) did nothing to bring about economic and social development changes in the lives of poor residents of the area.
The Chief Minister referred to the sensational death of Panchayat Extension Officer (PEO) Smitarani Biswal, who was found dead in the guesthouse of Haridaspur Sarpanch’s husband Rupesh on October 16, 2019.
The Chief Minister said, “A woman named Smitarani was working in a panchayat under Dharamshala assembly constituency. During this time, some leaders of Biju Janata Dal used her for personal gain and later murdered her. A woman like Smitarani How can a party that murders women boast of respect for women?
He said Smitharani’s husband met him recently and urged for a fresh investigation into the incident to unravel the mystery behind the murder.
The Chief Minister stressed that the BJP government will reopen the case and provide justice to the victim. No person involved in this case will be spared.
–IANS
SCH/CBT