Controversy Erupts Over BJP MLA's Alleged Misogynistic Remarks in Odisha

Political Tensions Rise in Odisha

In Odisha, a controversy has emerged following remarks made by BJP MLA Santosh Khatua, which were allegedly derogatory towards BJD member Lekhashree Samantsinghar. Samantsinghar, who switched from BJP to BJD ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and is contesting from the Balasore parliamentary seat, accused the MLA of making 'anti-women' comments regarding her and other female leaders in Odisha.

Khatua responded by labeling the accusations as baseless. A First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against him at the Nilgiri police station in Balasore district. Local resident Shanti Lata Biswal has demanded action against Khatua for his statements that she claims humiliate women.

Calls for Apology and Action

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has been urged to demand an apology from the BJP. Lekhashree Samantsinghar, the senior general secretary and spokesperson for BJD, tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a post on X, drawing attention to the issue.

In statements to various television channels, Khatua reportedly made disparaging remarks about Samantsinghar's character. Meanwhile, at least three separate FIRs were lodged at the Nilgiri police station on Thursday evening, accusing Khatua of making offensive comments against women.

Samantsinghar's Plea to the Prime Minister

In her post tagging Modi, Samantsinghar wrote, 'Dear Modi Ji, please listen to your MLA from Odisha when he speaks about women political leaders. This is what true BJP leaders do to honor women.' She urged the Prime Minister to consult capable Odia officials in his office for translation.

She further stated, 'After hearing this, we will see if you still feel inspired to talk about respecting women or Operation Sindoor.' Samantsinghar warned that failing to take action against such misogynistic elected representatives would render the Prime Minister's promises to women meaningless.

Background of the Controversy

The dispute began on Wednesday when Samantsinghar held a press conference accusing Khatua of involvement in the killing of an elephant and the theft of its tusks on June 15 in the Nilgiri area of Balasore. She labeled the BJP MLA as a 'thief' and 'dacoit.' Following this, Khatua's comments went viral, although the authenticity of the video has not been confirmed by any news agency.

Opposition leader and BJD president Naveen Patnaik condemned Khatua's remarks and called on the public to oppose such language against women. He emphasized that otherwise, as a state, we would fail our daughters and mothers. The former Chief Minister expressed concern over the BJP leaders' silence on the issue.

In response to the allegations, BJP spokesperson Anil Biswal defended Khatua, claiming he is being framed in the elephant hunting case. Biswal stated that BJD has mastered the art of making false accusations and alleged that elephants were also killed during BJD's tenure, suggesting that this is merely a conspiracy to tarnish the image of BJP legislators.