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Opposition 'exaggerating' Anjana Mishra rape issue, says Patnaik

Orissa Chief Minister J B Patnaik today accused the opposition parties in the state of trying to extract political mileage by exaggerating the Anjana gang-rape issue.

Addressing newspersons, Patnaik said some individuals and opposition political parties were all out to defame him and asserted they would not succeed.

The chief minister also disapproved the Orissa bandh called by the opposition parties in the state tomorrow saying that it would not serve any purpose as the government had already ordered a judicial inquiry within 48 hours of the gang-rape incident.

He said he had ordered a judicial inquiry by a sitting high court judge as it would be most impartial, fair and would bring out the real truth.

The chief minister said he was very surprised that his name had been dragged into the incident and rejected demands for his resignation, stating that there was no necessity for stepping down from the post over a rape or dacoity.

When pointed out that Anjana Mishra had repeatedly named him as being behind the gang-rape, the chief minister quipped, "What should I say? This is purely a politically-motivated statement."

He said when the incident occurred he was in Delhi and after learning of it, he had directed the state director general of police to order a Crime Branch inquiry into the incident.

Patnaik said he then rushed back to Bhubaneswar and, after going through the FIR filed by Anjana Mishra, immediately decided to hold a judicial inquiry headed by a sitting high court judge to remove any doubt in the minds of the people.

The chief minister said he strongly condemned all rape cases and said the Anjana Mishra rape was also to be condemned.

He said he did not understand how the Orissa bandh called by the opposition parties would resolve the matter. The Supreme Court, he pointed out, had disapproved of all bandh calls.

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