Bhubaneswar: Former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik on Thursday accused the State government of reducing women’s empowerment to mere “narratives and optics” rather than substantive action.
Addressing the Special Session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly, he launched a sharp attack on the State government and cited the Jitu Munda skeleton case that he said reflected deep administrative insensitivity towards women.
He welcomed the discussion on the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill but stressed that the Women’s Reservation Bill, passed unanimously in Parliament in 2023, should be implemented immediately. Highlighting Odisha’s track record, he noted that the state was among the first to introduce 33% reservation for women in local bodies, later increased to 50%, and pointed to his party’s move to field 33% women candidates in Lok Sabha elections.
He criticised the Centre for linking the implementation of women’s reservation with delimitation, calling it a “clandestine move” that could affect Odisha’s political representation. He cautioned that any move undermining the state’s voice would have long-term consequences.
Reaffirming his position, Patnaik assured the people of Odisha that their rights would be protected and urged the ruling party to move beyond rhetoric on women’s empowerment.
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