Bhubaneswar: Amid the opposition’s criticism regarding women’s safety after the BJP govt was formed in Odisha in June last year, the ruling dispensation has presented data revealing a decline in crimes against women during the period.
Data from Odisha police revealed that 22,941 cases of crimes against women were registered till Feb this year after the BJP govt was formed on June 12, 2024. The figure represents a 4.2% drop compared to 23,944 such cases registered during a similar period under the previous govt.
“After our govt assumed office, a decrease has been witnessed in various offences between June 1, 2024, and Feb 28, 2025, compared to June 1, 2023, to Feb 28, 2024. The crimes included rape of adults and minors, molestation, sexual harassment, stalking, trafficking, eve-teasing, public disrobing, acid attacks, dowry-related homicides, and both dowry and non-dowry torture cases,” law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan told TOI.
On Tuesday, Harichandan addressed the assembly on behalf of chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi during discussions about a Congress-moved adjournment motion regarding ‘rising crimes against women’. Harichandan highlighted that alongside reduced crime rates, police response improved significantly, with suspects arrested within 24 to 48 hours of reported incidents. “The previous govt was making a helpless and incapable statement (‘law will take its own course’). Our focus is eradication of crime and criminals. Nobody is above law,” Harichandan said.
Despite the presentation of comparative data, Congress continued to disrupt assembly proceedings on Wednesday regarding women’s safety issues. Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati said, “A House committee comprising legislators from all the political parties should be formed to probe and discuss various details related to incidents of crimes against women.”
Congress has consistently been raising women’s safety concerns since the assembly session began on March 7. The opposition party already announced plans to gherao the assembly on March 27 on the issue.
BJP dismissed Congress’s claims about increasing crimes against women, citing statistical evidence. BJP MLA Irasis Acharya questioned the basis of these claims, noting that the govt already presented data addressing the issue. “Congress deliberately wants to disrupt the proceedings by raising an issue which is factually incorrect,” Acharya said.