Bhubaneswar: A day after the Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (OSCPCR) issued a show-cause notice to senior BJD leaders, including party president Naveen Patnaik, over alleged use of children in the party’s ‘Save Education’ rally in Jharsuguda, the BJD defended participation of minors in the programme. It claimed that they had attended it with the consent of their parents.A section of BJD leaders, including former Jharsuguda MLA Dipali Das and Biju Chhatra Janata Dal state president Ipsita Sahoo, organised the protest on Friday over alleged errors in school textbooks. Several children in school uniforms were seen participating in the demonstration.Subsequently, three individuals filed a complaint with the commission against the BJD president and other party leaders, alleging that children were used in a political rally during school hours. The complainants also alleged that the children were exposed to fire and smoke during the protest.Taking cognisance of the complaint, the commission stated that it was a violation of the Right to Education Act and Pocso Act and sought explanations from the BJD leadership and other party members within seven days.Reacting to the notice, Biju Chhatra Janata Dal state president Ipsita Sahoo said the event was not a political rally but a socio-political movement centred on issues affecting students. “We had approached the parents before the rally and they participated voluntarily. The children, too, joined the programme with their parents’ consent,” she said.
