Odisha Congress MLA KC Sagaria resigns over Kunduli gangrape incident
Congress MLA Krishna Chandra Sagaria today resigned as a member of the Odisha Assembly, protesting "injustice" meted out to an alleged gangrape victim of Kunduli, Koraput district (Odisha), who committed suicide earlier this year. The 14-year-old girl had alleged that she was gangraped by four men in uniform last October. The police denied her allegations and subsequently, she committed suicide on January 22.
I failed to ensure justice in Kunduli gangrape incident: Sagaria
Stating that he had announced his decision to quit as a legislator on October 30, Sagaria, who represented Koraput Assembly segment, said he submitted his resignation letter to Assembly Speaker P K Amat this morning. "I feel I have no moral right to continue as MLA, having failed to ensure justice in Kunduli gangrape and suicide incident," he said. The speaker hasn't reacted yet.
Probe was hushed up by police, claims Sagaria
The Dalit leader, however, clarified he would continue to work for the Congress. Holding the BJD-led State Government responsible for the incident, Sagaria had earlier alleged that the investigation was "hushed up" by the police. He vowed to create awareness among the people in his state about the "increasing atrocities and crimes against women" and also about the inaction of the State Government.
