Orissa law & order: BJD seeks Central team’s visit

“We urged Advani to send a high-level delegation to the state to get first-hand report of the law and order situation,” remarked party secretary-general Prasanna Acharya who, along with Bhadrak MP Arjun Charan Sethi, was part of the delegation. “He assured us that he will look into the matter,” he added.

Sources in the Home Ministry do not rule out sending a team to Orissa, but say that no decision has been taken so far. In fact, it is pointed out, such pressure tacticscould soon lead to the Ministry dispatching a team to the state. If nothing else, it would give the Home Minister a justification for doing so.

The BJD leaders also urged the Home Minister to order a CBI inquiry into Anjana Mishra’s gangrape. “While agreeing with our concern, he expressed his helplessness in complying with it as a request for a CBI inquiry could only be made by either the state government or the High Court,” Acharya told The Indian Express.

Advani, however, assured the delegation that the Government would do everything possible under the law.

Patnaik stressed that after the Anjana Mishra rape case, the state government had no right to stay in power. He also told Advani that the matter was an “acid test” for Congress president Sonia Gandhi as it would show her commitment towards the cause of women — at least in a state ruled by her party.