AMN / BHUBNESWAR
Odisha Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy resigned today after he stoked controversy over his remarks on the acquittal of the accused in a gang rape-and-murder case of 2011-2012. According to sources Maharathy has sent his resignation letter to the chief minister’s office.
The development came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing a public meeting at Baripada yesterday, accused the Odisha government of not being serious about the welfare of women and girls. Mr Modi had urged the state government to re-investigate the Pipili gang rape-and-murder case.
A 19-year-old Dalit girl was raped in November, 2011 and died in June, 2012 after remaining in a semi-comatose state, sparking a state-wide furore. It was alleged that the accused in the case had been sheltered by Maharathy.
On December 24, 2018, the court of additional district judge in Bhubaneswar had acquitted the two persons arrested in the case.
Reacting to the court judgement, Maharathy had said, the victim girl got justice. Maharathy’s statement had angered opposition political parties as well as the victim’s family who had sought stringent action against the accused. Congress and BJP leaders had demanded Maharathy’s resignation over his disputed remark.