BHUBANESWAR: Three sensational gangrape cases within a fortnight have put the Government in an unenviable situation even as the Opposition has begun to make the most out of it politically. With panchayat polls drawing nearer, the Opposition would not have got a bigger issue to whip the Government on the law and order in the countryside of the State. The revulsion shown across the State after the Pipili gangrape case has forced the Government into acting tough it has ordered a judicial probe, while the Crime Branch is looking into the case. But the Opposition has seized the opportunity to demand a CBI probe and resignation of Agriculture Minister Pradip Maharathi for allegedly sheltering the accused. Maharathi has, meanwhile, denied all the allegations. What has surprised many is, though the Opposition parties have hit the streets demanding Maharathi’s ouster, none from the BJD has come to his defence. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik too has maintained a pregnant silence triggering speculation. Even as the Government remained on the defensive over the Pipili gangrape case, two more rape cases were reported __ one from Rajgangpur and another in Bhadrak. A number of rape cases, within a short span of time, speaks volumes about the deteriorating law and order situation under Naveen, who also holds the Home portfolio, charged senior Congress leader Narsingha Mishra. The CM must go and CBI probe be ordered, he said. This is not the first time that the Government is on the backfoot over rape cases. The Paikmal gangrape case took place in May, 2009 hardly two months after the Naveen Government took charge for the third term. Minister for SC/ST Welfare Bijay Ranjan Singh Bariha, against whom there were allegations of protecting the accused in the case, had to ultimately resign. Another Cabinet minister had to go through anxious days over a gangrape case in October, 2011 with allegations that local BJD leaders were involved in the incident.
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