Bhubaneswar: The Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Friday alleged that the safety of tourists in Odisha has become a matter of concern, with incidents of harassment and assault being reported from tourist destinations at regular intervals during the two-and-a-half-year tenure of the BJP government.
In a statement, BJD spokesperson and media coordinator Lenin Mohanty said the alleged assault on a tourist couple at a restaurant in Puri came within 72 hours of the incident involving a young woman and her male companion at Kapilas in Dhenkanal district.
Tourist couple harassed near Odisha’s Kapilash Temple, three arrested
Mohanty said the recurrence of such incidents reflected what he described as the deteriorating law and order situation in the state and could adversely affect Odisha’s image as a tourist destination.
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He referred to the recent incident in Puri in which a tourist couple from Karnataka allegedly faced assault and harassment at a restaurant. The couple subsequently spoke to the media and reportedly said they would never return to Puri.
The BJD spokesperson also referred to the Kapilas incident, alleging that the young woman and her male companion were subjected to severe harassment.
Mohanty alleged that similar untoward incidents involving tourists had also been reported from places including Bali Harachandi, Dhauli and Rayagada since the BJP government assumed office.
He said the alleged gang-rape of a young woman at Gopalpur Beach had brought national and international criticism to Odisha and claimed that the United States had subsequently issued an advisory warning its citizens about visiting the state.
The BJD alleged that despite assurances by the state government following the Gopalpur incident that adequate security would be provided to tourists, incidents involving visitors at tourist destinations had continued.
Mohanty contrasted the situation with the previous BJD government, claiming that during the tenure of the Naveen Patnaik government, tourist destinations were renovated and efforts were made to improve their attractiveness and tourist safety.
The BJD further claimed that tourist inflow into Odisha had declined by around 12 per cent since the BJP came to power, attributing the alleged decline to concerns over tourist safety.
The party said recurring incidents involving tourists could have an adverse impact on Odisha’s tourism sector and its reputation as a destination for domestic and international visitors.
The BJD demanded that the state government take adequate measures to ensure the safety and security of tourists at all major tourist destinations and prevent recurrence of such incidents.
