Bhubaneswar: Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused Odisha government of not being serious about the welfare of women and urged it to re-investigate the Pipili gang rape and murder, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik hit back at Modi, saying his government is pursuing the Pipili case “forcefully”.

“We are pursuing and following the Babina case very forcefully,” the Chief Minister said when reporters asked him about his comments on Modi’s claim.

Earlier in the day at a BJP rally in Baripada of Mayurbhanj district, Modi said: "This (Odisha) government could not give justice to a girl in an incident that took place seven to eight years ago in Puri district. It is natural that women and girls are angry over laxity in investigation into the case for which the victim has been denied justice.”

Notably, a 19-year-old dalit girl was allegedly gang-raped in 2011 and died in coma while undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack in 2012 sparking a state-wide furore over the incident.

Besides, the PM said Odisha was lagging behind on parameters related to women health and well-being.

The Central government's efforts for women empowerment were not reaching the women of Odisha as the state government is not serious about women welfare, Modi added.