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Pressure growing on Patnaik to quit

Bibhuti Mishra in Bhubaneshwar

Pressure is growing on Orissa Chief Minister J B Patnaik to quit following the alleged rape of a Catholic nun on Wednesday near Baripada.

While six squads have been formed to investigate the case, both the police and the church authorities are avoiding comment on the matter.

Since the nun has reportedly burnt her undergarments and has said that she does not remember the colour and number of the car that was used to kidnap and rape her, the investigation has been affected badly says Superintendent of Police Pradeep Kapoor.

Meanwhile, the demand for Patnaik's resignation is growing, this incident coming so soon after the killing of Stains at Manoharpur and the gang rape of Anjana Mishra. Things haven't been helped that Mishra claimed that Patnaik was behind the attack on her. Congress President Sonia Gandhi too had sharply reprimanded the chief minister for questioning the propriety of Mishra being out late at night.

The alleged rape of a nun is seen as a clear sign of the collapse of the law and order in the state. BJP legislature party leader Bishwabhushan Harichandan has demanded an end to the 'dark reign' of J B Patnaik while Janata Dal leader, former minister Narasimngha Mishra, asserted a 'crime raj' was loose in the state.

BJD parliamentary party leader Bijoy Mohapatra said Christians and other minorities were not safe in the state and that the chief minister was morally responsible. Meanwhile the nuns in Bhubaneswar are taking out a silent procession today to protest the alleged rape.

However, some political parties blame the Sangh Parivar for whipping up anti-Christian feelings. Former MP and Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Shivaji Patnaik said the rape of a nun was yet another chapter in the torture unleashed by the Sangh family on minorities.

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