Bhubaneswar: A day after Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy steeped down from the state Cabinet, Opposition Congress Monday demanded resignation of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on moral grounds over the infamous Pipli gangrape case.
Stating the resignation of Maharathy is just an eyewash, Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Satya Nayak said, “Due to loopholes in investigation into the Pipli gangrape and murder case, the accused were acquitted by the court. The CM should take moral responsibility and resign as he is holding the Home department portfolio.”
“We are not satisfied with the resignation of Maharathy as it’s just a publicity stunt of the BJD government and the same old strategy of Naveen babu to cover up the issue. Owing moral responsibility, the CM should resign immediately,” Nayak said.
The report of Justice PK Mohanty Commission, which had probed the incident and submitted its report to the state government nearly two and a half years ago, must be made public, he demanded.
Questioning the role of the investigating officer and the Crime Branch in the case, the Congress leader demanded reinvestigation of the case under the supervision of a setting judge of Orissa High Court.
Slamming the Congress, BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra said, “If we start digging out the history of the Congress in its 60 years of rule in the country, a lot of things will come out. However, BJD doesn’t want to be engaged in such cheap politics and hope Congress will do the same.”