Naveen Patnaik Condemns ‘Inhuman’ Odisha Bank Incident, Writes to Finance Minister
Bhubaneswar, May 2: Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik has strongly condemned an incident in Keonjhar where a tribal man was allegedly forced to exhume and carry his sister’s skeletal remains to an Odisha Gramya Bank branch to prove her death.
Patnaik described the act as “inhuman” and “humiliating,” urging Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to take immediate action.
In his letter, Patnaik stressed that banking procedures must serve citizens rather than degrade them, especially vulnerable communities.
He called for accountability, reforms in rural banking practices, and greater empathy in democratic institutions.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage across Odisha and drawn international media attention.
Patnaik expressed confidence that compassionate intervention by the Finance Ministry could prevent recurrence and strengthen accountability in rural banking systems.
