Naveen Patnaik, president of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), accused the BJP of compromising the safety and security of women in Odisha on Thursday [1, 2].
The allegations highlight a growing political conflict over public safety and the state's international reputation. Patnaik’s claims suggest that the current administration's policies have created a volatile environment for women, which may deter foreign visitors and investment.
Patnaik said the safety and security of women has been jeopardized since the BJP came to power in June 2024 [1]. He specifically pointed to travel advisories issued by several foreign embassies as evidence of the crisis. These advisories reportedly warn women citizens against visiting the state due to security concerns [1, 2].
"It is a terrible shame for our state," Patnaik said [2].
While some reports indicate that Patnaik targeted both the BJP and the Congress party regarding these safety issues [2], other accounts focus exclusively on the BJP-led government [1]. Regardless of the target, Patnaik linked the decline in security directly to the change in leadership that occurred in June 2024 [1].
The BJD leader framed the issue as a failure of governance that affects the state's standing on the global stage. He said that the current trajectory of security is unacceptable, and that his party remains committed to maintaining the state's political influence [1].
"We will not allow any reduction in Odisha’s political power," Patnaik said [1].
“"It is a terrible shame for our state."”
This confrontation signals an intensifying rivalry between the BJD and the BJP in Odisha. By citing foreign embassy travel warnings, Patnaik is attempting to move the debate from local political rhetoric to a matter of international perception, suggesting that the BJP's governance is damaging the state's global image and public safety record.
