Odisha teacher’s murder: BJP announces ‘Light a Lamp’ campaign for justice

BHUBANESWAR: The BJP on Tuesday announced to launch a campaign called ‘Light a Lamp’ on Diwali to seek justice for murdered woman teacher Mamita Meher. It comes day after Congress announced ‘Odisha Bandh’ on November 12 pressing for minister of state for home Dibya Shankar Mishra’s resignation on the issue, indicating the two national parties are in no mood to relent anytime soon.
Addressing a news conference, state BJP president Samir Mohanty unveiled posters of BJP’s ‘Light a Lamp’ campaign and appealed all the one crore families in Odisha to light an extra lamp to ensure justice for the teacher on the occasion of Diwali on Thursday. “Women’s life is in danger under the BJD government. Crimes against women is rising fast,” Samir said.
Congress spokesperson Satya Prakash Nayak said that the party would give 10 days to the government to sack minister Mishra before holding Odisha Bandh on November 12 and intensifying its protest further in case the government doesn’t act. “Not bringing the minister under the purview of the probe means helping destroy evidence,” he said.
The youth Congress workers took out a rally at Kuchinda, protesting chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s silence in the murder case coinciding with the CM’s visit to the township in Sambalpur district.
The BJD said the probe is on track. “The BJD stand is very clear. Law take its own course. The main accused has been arrested and police have continued probe,” said BJD MP Sujeet Kumar. Mishra had earlier issued a statement pleading he was innocent.
The BJP and the Congress have been staging protests for past more than 20 days since October 20 demanding resignation of the junior home minister and to bring him under the purview of the probe. The rival parties have alleged Mishra had close links with murder accused Gobinda Sahu and had tried to mediate between Sahu and Mamita over their differences.
Police have arrested Gobinda, founder of the Sunshine English Medium School in Kalahandi district where Mamita (24), a native of Balangir district, worked, and his associate Radhe for the October 8 murder.
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