Bhubaneswar: The apology by Pipli MLA and Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy for his ‘insensitive’ comments on acquittal of the accused siblings in Pipli gangrape and murder case has failed to pacify the angry Opposition Congress and BJP.
Pradesh Mahila Congress president Sumitra Jena said that the apology was a sponsored one and the party would continue its agitation until Maharathy resigns from his post.
“He tendered an apology but his opinion on the verdict hasn’t changed. We will continue agitation till the minister is expelled from the ministry,” she said.
Similarly, BJP leader Aparajita Sarangi also expressed her dissatisfaction over the statement of Maharathy and his apology. “Only apology is not enough. I met the family members of the victim and they need justice. To give justice to them, apology is not enough.” The saffron party has decided to take this issue to village level.
However, BJD spokesperson Samir Das said the matter should be put to rest here as the minister has admitted his mistake and tendered apology.
Maharathy, the then first-time minister, who was sworn in May 2011, had to step down January 19, 2012, for having been in the line of fire for allegedly providing shelter to the accused.
Women Congress activists Thursday had staged a demonstration outside the minister’s official quarters in Bhubaneswar and hurled eggs and tomatoes at his house. A few activists were also taken into preventive custody following a scuffle with police. The BJP had demanded CBI probe into the case.
The victim, then a 19-year-old girl from Arjungoda of Pipli in Puri district, went into coma after being allegedly gangraped November 28, 2011. She was found unconscious and semi-naked in a paddy field in her village. After remaining in coma for over six months, the girl died at SCB hospital in Cuttack in June 2012.