Bhubaneswar: The student wing of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) will hold a statewide protest on June 25 over the alleged rise in the incidents of crime against women in Odisha. 

The youth and student wing of the Naveen Patnaik-led party announced this at a press conference in the capital city here today. As part of the agitation, the students will boycott classes, wear black badges and hold picketing across the state.  

BJD youth leaders and MLAs Byomkesh Ray and Devi Ranjan Tripathy alleged that the BJP government in Odisha has turned a mute spectator to the rising cases of atrocities against women in the state.

They blamed the BJP government for the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. “Since the BJP assumed power in the state, the law and order has been consistently declining. Every day, newspapers are filled with reports of young women being harassed, raped, kidnapped, or murdered. In one shocking incident at the tourist destination, Gopalpur, a girl was gang-raped in front of her male friend who was tied to a tree. Similarly, a tragic incident occurred in Chief Minister's home district Keonjhar. On average, about 15 girls are raped daily in Odisha. Such rising cases have led to a climate of fear and insecurity among women,” alleged Ray.

It is deeply unfortunate and painful that the state government remains indifferent and has completely failed to control the worsening law and order situation, he added.

The BJD MLAs also targeted the BJP government for the recent outbreak of cholera and diarrohea in some districts of Odisha.