Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed his concern over the politicization of sensitive criminal cases for personal gain. He emphasized that those who engage in such politics may not be re-elected to the Assembly. During a debate on the Home and General Administration departments, the Chief Minister mentioned a case in which a female police officer was allegedly physically assaulted by the Leader of Opposition. He condemned the incident, stating that it cannot be tolerated in a civilized society.
Naveen Patnaik stated that those who work for the people are the ones who return to the Assembly, while those who engage in politics over crime and hinder development for political reasons do not. He highlighted the Opposition’s conduct and their attempts to stall developmental work, emphasizing that the people are observing their actions.
The Chief Minister also mentioned the improvement in the Maoist situation and the overall peaceful law and order situation in the state. He attributed this to Lord Jagannath’s blessings and the cooperation of the people of Odisha. Naveen Patnaik mentioned that there have been no major law and order incidents in various sectors such as students, services, industry, labor, and agriculture.
In terms of recruitment, more than 5,000 candidates have been appointed in the Odisha Police and Prisons this year. Additionally, clearance has been given to fill up over 3,300 posts in the Police and nearly a thousand in Prisons and Fire Services. The Chief Minister also highlighted the ‘Monitoring of Atrocity, National Commission Cases and Assistance to Victims’ (MANAV) portal launched by the Odisha Police to expedite investigations under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and provide timely compensation to victims.
Naveen Patnaik emphasized that his government adopts a zero-tolerance approach towards crime, especially those against women. He assured that free, fair, and impartial investigations are conducted. The Chief Minister also mentioned the ‘Mo Sarkaar’ (My government) initiative, which has instilled confidence in public services. Recruitment examinations by the three recruiting commissions are regularly conducted, and this year, over 12,000 candidates have been recommended for appointment.
