Bhubaneswar, April 30: Leader of the Opposition (LoP) and Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, on Thursday, raised serious concerns over the Keonjhar "Skeleton Proof" incident in the Odisha Assembly, asserting that it had severely damaged the state's reputation both nationally and internationally.
During the Special Session on women's participation in Indian democracy, Patnaik highlighted the deeply troubling nature of the case, which took place in the Chief Minister’s home district, Keonjhar. He noted that this made the issue even more alarming, especially given the context of the ongoing debate on women's issues in the Assembly.
Patnaik stated, "Odisha’s reputation is at stake, as a woman’s body had to be exhumed by her family and taken to the bank to prove her death to claim her rightful dues."
He further accused the administration of negligence, claiming that despite repeated attempts by the brother, Jitu Munda, of the deceased, Kalara Munda, to complete the necessary bank formalities, the officials continued to harass him, demanding further proof of his sister’s death.
Criticizing the state government, Patnaik described the incident as a disgrace, underscoring the lack of accountability and empathy within the administration. He argued that this case reflected the broader issues facing women in Odisha under the current governance.
"This is the reality of governance today in Odisha," Patnaik said. "Reports from international outlets like the New York Post and BBC are highlighting these failures, and this is the image the world now associates with our state. The double-engine government, which champions banking reforms, has failed the people, especially women, in Odisha. Such inhumane governance is unprecedented in Odisha’s history."
The LoP also referenced a travel advisory issued by the United States last year, warning its citizens against visiting Odisha. He pointed out that the BJP government in the state had no moral ground to discuss issues of women’s dignity and empowerment.
"Governance has become nothing more than optics and narrative-building," he continued. "The Chief Minister must reflect on his actions. The fact that such a brutal incident occurred in his own district, Keonjhar, speaks volumes about the governance in Odisha."
Patnaik took the opportunity to address the motion moved by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, reiterating the Biju Janata Dal’s (BJD) long-standing commitment to women’s reservation. He praised the party's support for the Women’s Reservation Bill but criticized the BJP for linking it to the issue of delimitation, accusing them of using the Bill as a political tool.
"History will not forgive this approach," Patnaik warned. He reminded the Assembly that under Biju Patnaik’s leadership, Odisha was one of the first states to implement 33% reservation for women in local bodies, and that the BJD had raised this to 50% in 2011.
Patnaik also highlighted that the BJD had allocated 33% of its Lok Sabha tickets to women candidates in both the 2019 and 2024 elections. In contrast, he said the BJP merely engaged in lip service and misrepresented their actions on women’s issues.
The LoP sharply criticized the BJP-led Union government for tying the Women’s Reservation Bill, which had already been passed in Parliament, to the delimitation exercise. He called this move a covert attempt by the ruling BJP to push for delimitation without fully engaging in necessary discussions.
"I say again, history will not forgive us if we support this delimitation. I assure the people of Odisha that as long as I am here, no one will be able to deprive Odisha of its rightful dues," Patnaik said in his concluding statement.
