Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi shared a personal story on Friday, recalling an incident where a police inspector ordered him to "get out" of a police station. Majhi recounted the experience while addressing a two-day collectors’ conference at Lok Seva Bhawan.
Reflecting on the incident, Majhi revealed it occurred just a month before he became the Chief Minister.
On May 2, during the simultaneous polls in Odisha, residents of Raisuan and Gopinathpur panchayats in the Keonjhar constituency staged a protest, blocking NH-20 over a drinking water crisis.
Majhi, who was then an MLA, assured the protesters he would address their concerns with the department’s executive engineer.
However, when Inspector-in-Charge Trinath Sethi invited the protesters to the police station, he questioned Majhi's presence and demanded he leave. "The inspector questioned my presence, stating the Model Code of Conduct was in effect and told me to ‘get out’ or face arrest," Majhi said.
Majhi expressed his disbelief, asking, "Can’t an MLA, who is also a candidate, visit the police station with people’s problems?" Feeling insulted, he staged a sit-in outside the station demanding accountability.
Majhi, now Chief Minister, stated that he forgave the inspector, attributing his actions to pressure. "Thanks to Lord Jagannath’s blessings, I became the CM. I could only imagine the inspector’s situation afterward. But I chose to forgive him."
Majhi used this experience to call for reform in police conduct, urging officers to treat citizens with dignity. "When people come to file complaints, they should be taken seriously," Majhi said, directing senior officials to investigate such incidents.
He also highlighted a similar experience faced by President Droupadi Murmu, who, as a minister, was disrespected by a district collector during a visit. Majhi urged officials to foster a culture of respect and accountability within government institutions.
Follow us
