Bharatpur PS Incident: Singh Deo Ridicules Naveen's Judicial Probe Demand Again

Bhubaneswar, Sept 21: Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo Saturday slammed Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for raising a finger at the present Mohan Majhi Government vis-a-vis Bharatpur police station incident while terming his 24-year tenure as a period of lawlessness, violence against women and failure State machinery.

The Deputy Chief Minister boasted of saying that the Mohan Majhi government has taken prompt action in the Army Major and his fiancee's assault case by suspending five cops and entrusting the State Crime Branch with the charge of the investigation.

Reacting to the LoP's judicial probe demand into the Bharatpur PS case, Singh Deo wanted to know from Patnaik why reports of 24 Judicial Commissions instituted during his 24-year tenure are yet to be made public.

"The Naveen Patnaik government had set up 24 judicial inquiry commissions to probe various cases. The reports have not been made public. If Patnaik had wanted he could have made a violence-free Odisha in 24 years," contended Singh Deo.

He alleged that Patnaik failed to give justice to people during his tenure.

He, however, thanked Patnaik for coming to the media for the first time to register his protest against an incident.

"A minister of his (Naveen Patnaik's) Cabinet was gunned down in broad daylight but he (Patnaik) remained mum for years. Now he has come forward to register his protest in an incident where our government has taken prompt action and declared to take stringent action and spare none," ridiculed Singh Deo.

Commenting on Mahila BJD's protest at Raj Bhawan, Singh Deo said, "The BJD is now doing politics over the Bharatpur incident. The BJD should remember that it was ousted from power by the people because of its inefficiency in protecting them" contended the Deputy Chief Minister.

He said tainted police officers, protected by the Naveen Patnaik government, are still on the job. They will be gradually ousted.

Singh Deo made the observations at the Vikash Mela held to mark the successful completion of the BJP government in the State.