Bhubaneswar:11/4/24: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Thursday sought strong action against the Odisha BJP leaders and candidates for allegedly defaming, intimidating, harassing, and character-assassinating grassroots women of Odisha.
A delegation of BJD today moved the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha alleging the State BJP leaders are creating a fear psychosis among the grassroots women of Odisha so that they can illegally influence them to do the Odisha BJP’s bidding in this election.
The Odisha BJP leaders and candidates are targeting the ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, and leaders of Mission Shakti and bringing false accusations against them to illegally influence them to do their bidding in this election. They are defaming, intimidating, harassing, and character assassinating grassroots women of Odisha like ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, and leaders of Mission Shakti publicly as well as by bringing false and derogatory statements and remarks against them in public and other forums. They are further alleging that they are working as stooges of some political parties.
“This is a gross violation of the Model Code of Conduct and shows the uncouth behavior and lack of respect and dignity in the Odisha BP towards the women and especially the grassroots women of Odisha”, the BJD delegation informed the CEO.
“ The respect for women across all segments and especially those in the grassroots must be ensured at all costs and we hope the Election Commission will ensure that by censuring the Odisha BJP leaders and candidates and taking strict action against them”, the BJD stated.