Opposition parties today demanded the resignation of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and called a 12-hour statewide bandh for the death of a minor dalit girl, who was set on fire by some youths after they attempted to rape her on July 28 in Kendrapara district.
"The Chief Minister must resign on moral grounds as his government is responsible for the death of the 14-year-old girl. She died due to government apathy," Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee President Jayadev Jena told reporters here.
Jena, who had visited the Capital Hospital last night where the girl was taken from the airport after the plan to fly her to Delhi was dropped due to her critical condition, said Health minister Damodar Rout should also resign for failing to save the life of the girl.
He said that the state government should have sent the girl to Delhi's Safdarjung hospital much earlier instead of waiting for 12 days and alleged that there was an alarming spurt in crimes against women while law and order had collapsed.
The women's wing of Congress would hold protests near the assembly building on August 20 demanding justice to the victim's family and punishment to the perpetrators, he said.
The BJP also hit out at Naveen government and called a 12-hour state-wide bandh tomorrow to protest the government's 'apathy' towards the girl.
"The BJD government has failed miserably to provide safety and security to women. The Chief Minister should resign as he has lost all right to remain in office any longer," senior BJP leader Surama Padhy said.
BJP state president K V Singh Deo said said the party would hold a candlelight rally here in protest.
Congress and CPI held demonstrations blaming the state government for the death of the girl.
The trial of the case should be conducted by a fast track court, CPI state secretary Dibakar Nayak said as his party staged a road blockade demanding Rs one crore as compensation to the girl's family.
Denying negligence in the treatment of the girl, the Health Minister said opposition parties were trying to politicise the issue keeping an eye on the next elections.
The minor seventh standard girl from Mahakalapada block of Kendrapara district was set ablaze by a youth and his friend on July 28. Both the prime suspects in this case - Pradip Das and Ekadashi Das - have been arrested.
