Bhubaneswar, Dec 17: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday sought a response from Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik on his party MP Sulata Deo's statement in Rajya Sabha "targeting" President Droupadi Murmu.
BJP Odisha spokesperson Anil Biswal, in social media post, said, "The manner in which a BJD Rajya Sabha MP dragged President Droupadi Murmu into petty politics, is not acceptable. She is the pride of Odisha. But, the RS MP's statement has hurt the people of Odisha."
"The question arises whether this is the personal opinion of the concerned Rajya Sabha MP or does BJD chief Naveen Babu also agree with this opinion? If there is no consensus, then why is Naveen Babu silent?" Biswal asked.
While participating in the discussion on the 'Glorious journey of 75 years of the Constitution of India' in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, Deo questioned President Murmu’s “silence” on the Manipur conflict, the recent communal flare-up in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal, and sexual violence against women in Odisha over the last six months.
“The President is a daughter of Odisha. She can express her anguish on the RG Kar rape case. But why is she silent on Manipur which is on fire over the last one-and-a-half years? Why is she silent on Sambhal? There have been 1,250 rapes in Odisha in the last six months. Where is the President? When will she break her silence? Is this what our Constitution teaches us?” Deo said.
