‘Perverse Mentality’: Naveen Patnaik Slams BJP MLA For ‘Character Assassination’ Of BJD's Lekhashree
BJP MLA Santosh Khatua faces backlash for allegedly making derogatory comments about BJD leader Lekhashree Samantasinghar after she accused him of elephant poaching.
Ruling BJP legislator Santosh Khatua has come under fire after allegedly making derogatory comments about senior BJD leader Lekhashree Samantasinghar, sparking demands for an apology from Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and the BJP. The controversy has drawn statewide attention, with BJD leaders accusing the BJP of fostering misogyny in politics.
Lekhashree Samantasinghar, senior general secretary and spokesperson of the BJD, brought the matter to the national stage by tagging Prime Minister Narendra Modi in her post on X. “Dear Modi Ji @narendramodi, Please listen to your MLA from Odisha talking about women politicians. This is true blood BJP neta giving true salute to women,” she wrote, urging the Prime Minister to get the remarks translated by his Odia-speaking officers. She further stated, “Your promise for women will sound hollow if you fail to take action against such misogynistic elected representatives.”
ABP could not independently verify the authenticity of the viral video containing Khatua’s alleged remarks.
Dear Modi Ji @narendramodi,
— Lekha Samantsinghar (@DrLekhaShree) July 3, 2025
Please listen to your MLA from Odisha talking about women politicians. This is true blood bjp neta giving true salute to women. I know you have very competent and intelligent Odia officers in @PMOIndia and Party. Pl ask them to translate for you.… pic.twitter.com/l1f83N1BUO
Accusations of Elephant Poaching Spark BJD, BJP MLA's Verbal Spat
According to a PTI report, the row began when Samantasinghar, during a press conference on Wednesday, alleged that Khatua was involved in the killing of an elephant and the theft of its tusks in Balasore’s Nilgiri area on 15 June. She called the BJP MLA a “thief” and “dacoit”. In what appeared to be a retaliatory move, Khatua reportedly made remarks on Samantasinghar’s character while speaking to certain television channels. His comments, widely shared on social media, triggered strong condemnation.
Ex-Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Slams Santosh Khatua’s Comments
In a strongly worded statement, BJD chief Naveen Patnaik posted, “The derogatory remarks made by BJP MLA Santosh Khatua against a respected BJD woman leader are extremely unfortunate and utterly unacceptable. Attempting to assassinate a woman’s character in public as a political response is a reflection of a perverse mentality and is aimed at suppressing women’s voices. It suggests that all women should remain silent…”
At a press conference on Thursday, Pramila Mallik, Opposition chief whip in the Odisha Assembly and senior vice-president of the BJD, also condemned Khatua’s remarks. “BJP MLA Khatua has used extremely hateful, ugly, insulting and low-quality language towards Dr. Lekhashree Samantasinghar. If such language is used against a woman, it is never acceptable in a civilised society,” Mallik said, as quoted by PTI. She questioned whether the BJP, which portrays itself as a party with a difference, trains its MLAs to speak in such a manner about women.
Mallik further demanded a public apology, asserting, “Khatua’s remarks are not directed at one woman alone—they are an insult to the entire women fraternity. Therefore, CM Mohan Charan Majhi and the BJP must apologise to the women of Odisha.”
BJP Denies Allegations Of Elephant Killing, Defends Khatua
Responding to the allegations on elephant killing, BJP spokesperson Anil Biswal dismissed the accusations as baseless. “Nilgiri MLA is being falsely dragged into the elephant killing case. The BJD has done a PhD in making false allegations,” he said in a statement cited by PTI.
Biswal added that four individuals have already been arrested in connection with the elephant deaths at Kuldiha Sanctuary, describing those apprehended as habitual offenders. He alleged that similar incidents occurred during the BJD’s tenure, claiming, “This is nothing but a conspiracy to malign the image of BJP legislators.”
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