Giri’s allegation to be probed

He, however, said that Giri, who met him yesterday, did not inform him about her findings.

Members, cutting across party lines, condemned Giri’s statement saying it had “lowered the dignity of women in the State.”

“It is a slur on the image of women in Orissa,” Minister of State for Excise Suresh Kumar Routray said demanding Giri’s arrest. “She should not be allowed to move out of Bhubaneswar,” he added.

The issue was raised by Narsingh Mishra (JD) who said that Giri’s statement was “shameless”. Stating that the statement had lowered the prestige of women, Mishra said that the Chief Minister should give a statement on thematter in the House.

Leader of Opposition Ramakrushna Patnaik said that a House committee should be set up to inquire into the matter.

He demanded that a criminal case be filed against Giri if what she had said could not be substantiated.

Biswabhusan Harichandan of the Bharatiya Janata Party also criticised Giri and demanded an inquiry into the matter. Ganeswar Behera (Congress) also condemned her statement.

Panchanan Kanungo (Biju Janata Dal) and Surendranath Nayak (Janata Dal) demanded a judicial probe. Balgopal Mishra (Ind) maintained that a sitting judge of the Supreme Court should probe into the matter which was “very serious” in nature. Debi Mishra of the Biju Janata Dal and Prafulla Ghadei (Janata Dal) demanded that the Chief Minister give a statement on the issue. Ranendra Pratap Swain (JD) also criticised Giri’s statement.

Swain and Debi Mishra (BJD) drew the Speaker’s attention to the observation made by Giri. The NCW chairperson had said that Advocate General Indrajit Ray should beasked to quit or be sent on a long leave till the case on the Anjana Mishra controversy was over.