Congress leader Pawan Khera Alleges Mass Disappearances of Women in Odisha, Demands Probe

By A Staff Reporter

Bhubaneswar, Odisha: Congress leader Pawan Khera has raised serious allegations regarding the rising cases of missing women in Odisha, stating that 20,000 women and young girls have disappeared in just eight months since the BJP assumed power in the state. Khera, addressing the media, described the situation as "extremely alarming" and accused both the BJP and the previous ruling party, BJD, of failing to act.

“In the last five years of the BJD regime, 44,000 women and young girls went missing. Now, under BJP’s rule, 20,000 have disappeared in just eight months. These are official Assembly figures, not Congress’ data,” Khera asserted. “This means four women go missing every hour in the state. What could be more serious than this?”

Congress has demanded the formation of a House Committee to investigate the disappearances. However, Khera alleged that the BJP-led government is unwilling to set up such a committee. He also criticized the police and bureaucracy for shielding the ruling party instead of taking action.

“Our 14 MLAs were suspended for raising this issue in the Assembly, and when our workers protested on the streets, they were beaten up,” Khera claimed. He further accused the Odisha Director General of Police (DGP) of making political statements instead of addressing the crisis.

Khera also highlighted what he termed a "silent understanding" between the BJP and BJD, stating that both parties remained quiet when women went missing under each other's rule. “Congress will expose this alliance,” he vowed, signaling further protests and action from the opposition party in the coming days.