Opposition blasts Naveen for ‘failing law and order’ situation

BHUBANESWAR: The Opposition in the Orissa Legislative Assembly on Wednesday blasted chief minister Naveen Patnaik saying that the rule of the law in the state had completely collapsed and the anarchy reigned supreme.

Mr Patnaik, however, countered the allegation saying “everything was by and large peaceful.”

Initiating discussion on an adjournment motion, Congress member Naba Kishore Das said most part of the state had come under the grips of the Naxals during the present regime and the police had unleashed a reign of terror in the remaining areas.

“There is no rule of law in the state. Anarchy prevails everywhere. While the Naxalites are calling shots in southern and western Orissa districts, the police personnel are behaving like government’s own security force. Justice for common people has become a far cry,” said Mr Das.

Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh, chief whip Prasad Harichandan, Congress members Santosh Singh Saluja and Anup Sai as well as BJP Legislature Party leader Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo also criticized the treasury bench members saying they all closed their eyes to the deteriorating law and order situation. They citied cases of innocent tribals getting killed in fake encounters and the recent assault on a judge in Rourkela by a police inspector and maintained that the government was dilly-dallying to take into task “errant” officials involved in such acts.

The Opposition members, quoting figures from the home department whitepaper, said crimes like rape, murder, dacoity and burglary had increased manifold since the present government came to power in 2001.

Replying to the debate, chief minister Mr Patnaik said the state had remained peaceful and there was no “police raj” and “anarchy” as alleged by the Opposition. “My government is very much aware about this sensitive issue and all possible steps are being taken to maintain peace and harmony in the state,” Mr Patnaik said.

Stating that communal situation in the state had remained peaceful and amity had been maintained between different religious groups, the chief minister claimed there had not been major labour unrest or any untoward incidents in the recent past.