BJD urges OSCPCR to issue notices to Odisha CM, others for 'using' children in political rally

Bhubaneswar, Jul 13 (PTI) The BJD on Monday urged the Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (OSCPCR) to issue show-cause notices to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and others for allegedly engaging children in a political rally held in Bhubaneswar on July 12. In a memorandum to the OSCPCR, the BJD also alleged that state BJP president Manmohan Samal and ex-MLA Pravat Biswal were "equally responsible" in the same case. The BJD claimed that a large number of children were found in the rally holding BJP placards on the occasion of Biswal joining the BJP at its state headquarters here in the presence of Majhi and Samal. On his way to the BJP party office, Biswal and his supporters took out a procession from Master Canteen Square to Ram Mandir Chhak, where children wearing saffron caps joined and also raised slogans in favour of the ruling party. "Engaging children in political rallies is a serious issue as it endangers the rights and protection of children. We have submitted a memorandum to OSCPCR to investigate the matter and issue notices to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, BJP state president Manmohan Samal, and former MLA Prabhat Ranjan Biswal," said Sumitra Jena, a member of the BJD delegation. Stating that children should not be involved in political rallies or activities that could expose them to political influence or public mobilisation, the BJD urged the OSCPCR chairperson to take cognisance of the matter, conduct an appropriate inquiry and initiate action in accordance with law. The BJD also submitted pictures and videos of children being part of the BJP's political rally. The opposition party also urged the commission to issue a direction on banning children being engaged in political activities in the state. The BJD's move came barely two days after the OSCPCR issued notices to BJD president and former chief minister Naveen Patnaik, former BJD MLAs Deepali Das and Alka Mohanty, and Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD) president Ipsita Sahoo over the alleged use of children in a 'Save Education' protest organised in Jharsuguda. The BJD had allegedly used minor school children, including girls in uniform, in its rally protesting large scale errors in textbooks for the students of Class I to Class-8. The Commission issued show-cause notices to Patnaik and others while acting on a complaint filed on July 10, its chairperson Babia Patra said. Rejecting the allegation, BJD students wing president Ipsita Sahoo said that the children had come to 'save education' protest along with their parents as the agitation was related to their future. "BJD never use children in its political programmes," she said. PTI AAM AAM RG