Bhubaneswar: Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Odisha in connection with the alleged harassment of a young couple near Kapilash Temple in Dhenkanal district recently.

The Naveen Patnaik-led party has claimed that the incidents of crime against women have increased significantly in Odisha in recent days. It also alleged that the tourist destinations of the state have become unsafe for women.

The Opposition party has sought the resignation of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who also holds the Home portfolio, by holding him accountable for the alleged deterioration in the law and order situation in the state.

“The manner in which a young woman and a young man were harassed at Kapilash has raised serious questions over the law and order situation in the state. Kapilash is a popular tourist destination and it attracts thousands of visitors from across Odisha. The occurrence of such an incident there is a matter of shame for the state. Incidents of rape and gangrape have been reported from various tourist destinations across the state in recent days,” said former minister and Biju Mahila Janata Dal president Snehangini Chhuria in a press conference here on Wednesday.

Chhuria also highlighted the alleged gangrape of a college girl on Gopalpur beach in Ganjam district in June, 2025 and claimed that the incident had brought shame and condemnation to the state.

“Following the Gopalpur incident, cases of crimes against women and incidents such as gang rape have also come to light from Bali Harachandi, Dhauli, Rayagada and other places. In this sequence, a similar incident has now occurred at Kapilash. The BJP government has completely failed to provide security to women in the state. The Chief Minister, who is in charge of the Home Department, should take moral responsibility and resign immediately,” added Chhuria.

BJD legislator Manorama Mohanty and former State Women’s Commission chairperson Minati Behera were also present at the presser.