- Law and order in the state began to deteriorate from the incident in which the Governor’s son assaulted a government official
- 40,947 cases of crime against women in 18 months
- With the collapse of law and order, the state’s growth rate has also declined
Bhubaneswar, 31/12/2025:Biju Janata Dal stated that during the last 18 months of BJP rule, the law and order situation in Odisha has collapsed, causing the state to be condemned and shamed across the country. The BJD has presented data to show that during these 18 months, crime against women have increased alarmingly. Addressing a press conference held at ShankhaBhavan, Rajya Sabha MP and the party’s National Spokesperson Dr. Sasmit Patra and Spokesperson and Media Coordinator Dr. Lenin Mohanty presented a long list of the state government’s failures in the field of law and order and severely criticised the government.
Dr. Sasmit Patra said that in the last 18 months of BJP rule, Odisha has earned shame not only within the state but also at the national level in one particular area, that is, the collapsed law and order system. He said the roots of this collapse were laid in June 2024 after the BJP came to power, through the conduct of the Hon’ble Governor’s son. Inside the Governor’s residence at Puri, a government officer was assaulted and was even forced to lick a shoe after it was slapped on him. This shameful incident was suppressed by the BJP government in the state.
Similarly, the murderous attack on the BMC Commissioner by BJP workers also became a topic of discussion in the national media. Because of the BJP government’s delay in delivering justice, the law and order situation in the state has been deteriorating day by day. In the last 18 months, 40,947 cases of atrocities against women have been registered in the state. This number itself reflects the collapsed law and order situation. Be it the Gopalpur gang rape incident, the gang rape and murder of a minor girl in Rourkela, the Baliharachandi gang rape case or the Dhauli gang rape case, all these incidents were widely discussed in national media and brought shame and condemnation to Odisha. Besides this, in terms of crime, Odisha has now earned the dubious distinction of being identified as the eighth most crime-prone state in the country.
Dr. Patra said that when law and order is not in proper shape, it becomes a major obstacle to the development of the state. This has also been visible in the last 18 months. State revenue from major mineral resources has fallen from Rs 50,000 crore to Rs 34,000 crore. Similarly, revenue from minor minerals has dropped from Rs 1,485 crore to Rs 600 crore. Recruitment examinations conducted under the state government are not being held properly. In the last 18 months, the state government has been forced to cancel 20 examinations. After the corruption in the SI recruitment examination became a subject of national media discussion, the state government was compelled to hand over the investigation to the CBI. Though the Chief Minister himself holds the Home portfolio, the so-called double engine government has completely failed to maintain proper law and order.
Dr. Lenin Mohanty said that the past one year has turned into a year of gang rapes. It is being felt that tourist places in the state are not safe for women. As a result, the number of tourists visiting different tourist destinations in Odisha has declined sharply. Following multiple gang rape incidents at various tourist spots, the United States issued a travel advisory stating that Odisha is not a safe place for women and advised American citizens not to travel here. This led to Odisha being condemned globally. The past year has also become a year of riots. Due to controversial decisions of the state government, the city of Cuttack, known as a city of brotherhood has now acquired the dubious distinction of witnessing riots. It is hoped that from the English New Year onwards, peace returns to the state, the law and order situation improves, and the peopleof Odisha begin to feel safe once again.
