A ruling BJD legislator called a BJP woman MLA ‘Radhe Maa’ today, which was denounced by members of the state assembly cutting across party lines.
The incident took place during the zero hour when BJP MLA Radharani Panda speaking on the alleged negligence of the western region of the state openly supported the agitators who observed a bandh demanding creation of separate Koshal state by bifurcating Odisha.
BJP state president K V Singhdeo, however, clarified that his party has no agenda for division of Odisha.
BJD MLA Ranendra Pratap Swain criticised Panda for her open support to the division of Odisha and called her “Radhe Maa”.
Panda immediately hit back saying, “I am not Radhe Maa. The BJD MLA cannot make such a remark against me.”
As she was about to rush to the well of the House as a mark of protest, other BJP members convinced her not to do so.
“As BJD does politics with the help of god men and women, they have developed the attitude to make such statements. I denounce Swain’s remark,” she told reporters outside the assembly.
Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra of Congress, BJD woman MLA Rajashree Mallick, BJD senior member Sashibhusan Behera were among those who denounced Swain’s statement.
They told newsmen outside the assembly that Swain should not use such remarks against an honorable member of the House.
Radhe Maa is a self-professed godwoman of Borivali in Mumbai, who was in the news for allegedly practising indecent behaviour.