Odisha: Cong MLA Sagaria to step down as MLA over 'injustice' to rape-suicide victim

BHUBANESWAR: Congress MLA Krishna Chandra Sagaria on Tuesday announced to resign from the membership of the state assembly, owing moral responsibility for his failure to ensure justice to Kunduli ‘rape-suicide’ victim.

Sagaria, who had stepped down from the post of party’s general secretary on October 1, claimed he would not quit Congress amid speculation that he might switch his allegiance to another party.

Sagaria said the 14-year-old girl from Kunduli area had alleged that she was gang-raped by four unknown security personnel on October 10 last year in Maoist-hit Koraput district. In December, the police, citing medical reports, ruled out rape. She hanged herself to death on January 22 this year. Sagaria alleged that the state government made a mockery of the girl’s plight and hushed up the case by ordering crime branch and judicial inquiries.

“I was deeply pained over the injustice meted out to her. Since I am the local elected representative, I was morally responsible to ensure justice for her. I also failed in giving her justice. So I have decided to step down as MLA,” Sagaria told media persons. Sagaria said he would submit his resignation to the assembly speaker Pradip Amat on November 6.

Reacting to Sagaria’s decision to resign on alleged failure of the state government in providing justice to the Kunduli victim, BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra said the Congress leadership should find out the exact reason of Sagaria’s resignation. “If Kunduli issue prompted the MLA to step down, then other Congress MLAs should have followed suit,” Patra said.

Congress state president Niranjan Patnaik said Sagaria could have fought the battle for Kunduli victim by remaining in the assembly post.

“I do not see any reason for resigning from the MLA post. Sagaria’s idea is noble as he is concerned about the safety of women and girls. But he could have stood by them without stepping down from the membership of the assembly,” Niranjan said. Sagaria was seemingly upset over Niranjan’s leadership after the latter removed him from the post of chairman of the scheduled caste cell of Congress recently.

Party’s Jeypore MLA and chief whip Taraprasad Bahinipati, who often locked horns with Sagaria in the past, said the latter’s resignation would not affect Congress. “I do not have any discord with Sagaria. But his resignation will not have any adverse impact on the party,” Bahinipati said.