Bhubaneswar, July 4(Newshub Desk): A political storm has erupted in Odisha after former Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik condemned BJP MLA Santosh Khatua for making derogatory remarks against BJD leader Lekhashree Samantasinghar.
The controversy, which began over allegations of elephant poaching, has now snowballed into a gender rights flashpoint.
Lekhashree had accused Khatua of being involved in elephant tusk theft, prompting an online backlash where Khatua allegedly responded with offensive comments.
The BJD leader tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the social platform X, demanding strict action and calling for accountability in politics.
Patnaik, taking to X, criticised the remarks as stemming from a “perverse mentality” and lambasted the BJP’s silence, saying it reflects “a sick mindset aimed at silencing women.” He appealed to all political and civic stakeholders to rise above party lines and unite against misogyny.
“Before preaching women’s empowerment, politicians must first learn to respect them,” Patnaik emphasized.
The BJP, meanwhile, has denied the poaching allegations, claiming they are politically motivated and adding that arrests related to the incident have already been made.
The party, however, has not officially addressed the comments attributed to its MLA.
As the state braces for deeper scrutiny of its political culture, the incident underscores the need for greater gender sensitivity and respect within public discourse.
