Protests, Politics Erupt In Odisha After Student Who Self-Immolated Over Harassment Dies
The Opposition parties, including the Congress, on Tuesday unitedly called for 'Odisha Bandh' on July 17 over the death of a 20-year-old student from Balasore.
Amid the ongoing tensions in Odisha over the death of a 20-year-old female student from Balasore, the opposition parties, including the Congress, on Tuesday unitedly called for 'Odisha Bandh' on July 17. The parties have also demanded the resignation of the State Higher Education Minister and a judicial investigation in connection to the case.
'Joint opposition has resolved that Odisha will be closed on July 17," CPI(M) leader Suresh Panigrahi was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
The CPI(M) leader attacked the state government and state that the victim appealed to the Odisha government, the local MP and MLA, Principal, District Collector, SP and the Higher Education Minister of state and centre, but nothing happened.
'We demand a strict judicial investigation of the whole incident, the Higher Education Minister should resign, and some action should be taken against the local MLA and MP," he added.
The 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Odisha's Balasore, who had attempted self-immolation, died on Monday, confirmed the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhubaneswar.
The student set herself on fire after allegedly facing prolonged sexual harassment by her college's Head of Department. Despite lodging a formal complaint and seeking help from the principal, her pleas were ignored, leading to the tragic incident.
Opposition Attacks Odisha Govt
Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Tuesday called the death the student an 'organised murder by the BJP's system" and accusing the BJP-led state government of failing to protect the victim.
Rahul Gandhi alleged that the student was subjected to repeated threats, torments and humiliation instead of receiving justice.
Taking to X, the Congress leader wrote, 'The death of a daughter fighting for justice in Odisha is nothing less than a murder by the BJP's system. That brave student raised her voice against sexual harassment, but instead of delivering justice, she was threatened, tormented, and repeatedly humiliated. Those who were supposed to protect her kept breaking her."
'As always, the BJP's system continued to shield the accused and forced an innocent daughter to set herself on fire. This is not suicide; it is an organised murder by the system. Modi ji, whether in Odisha or Manipur, the daughters of the nation are burning, breaking, and dying. And you? You remain silent. The country doesn't need your silence; it needs answers. India's daughters need safety and justice," the post added.
Earlier in the day, the Congress workers staged a protest outside AIIMS Bhubaneswar following the death of the student. Police later detained the protesting workers.
(With agency inputs)
view comments
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
15 minutes ago
- The Hindu
It does not behove Governor to say 'Himachal will become Udta Punjab': CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday (July 28, 2025) took strong exception to the recent remarks of Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla on drug menace in the State and said that it does not behove a person holding a constitutional office to make such statements. The Governor had, on Thursday (July 24, 2025), expressed his displeasure over the "lack of government rehabilitation centres" in the State and warned that if immediate action is not taken to eradicate drug menace, Himachal Pradesh would become "Udta Punjab" in the next five years. Himachal Pradesh suffers losses of ₹1500 crore during ongoing monsoon season Pointing out the cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act rose by 340% from around 500 in 2012 to about 2,200 in 2023, the Governor had said, "There is only one rehab run by the Red Cross in Kullu. We have been hearing that land is being identified to set up a rehabilitation centre in Sirmaur district, but nothing is moving on the ground." Talking to mediapersons in Shimla, Mr. Sukhu said, "The Governor is holding a constitutional and dignified office and we respect him. But making such statements does not behove him. We should all respect the people of Himachal Pradesh." At least 7 killed, 27 injured as bus rolls down into gorge in Himachal Detailing his government's efforts to curb drug use in the State, Mr. Sukhu said, "No previous governments have done what we have done against the drugs. Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act, which enables the detention of repeat offenders involved in drug-trafficking, was invoked for the first time in Himachal Pradesh within three months after the formation of the Congress government," he said. The Chief Minister informed that ₹43 crore worth of illegally acquired properties of drug-traffickers have been seized and directions were given for mapping of all the 3,575 panchayats in the State. A head constable as well as a constable would be deployed for every 5-6 panchayats to dedicatedly work against drug abuse. 'The mapping would reveal a drug abuser and the source of drugs,' he said. "I will also apprise the Governor of steps taken against drug abuse and inform him that several non-governmental organisations are working in this direction. For the first time, a Nasha Nivaran Kendra (State-level model drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centre) was opened at Kotla Barog in Pachhad sub-division of Sirmour district," he said.
Hans India
15 minutes ago
- Hans India
ECI conspiring on behalf of Centre to slap NRC in Bengal, claims CM Mamata
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of being a "partner in the conspiracy" hatched by the BJP and the Union government to implement NRC in the state. She also claimed that if there is an attempt to indirectly slap NRC in West Bengal under the garb of special intensive revision (SIR) by the poll panel, there will be major opposition in the state against it. 'Under no circumstances will we be allowing implementation of NRC or setting up detention camps in the state. If there is any such attempt, there would be major resistance to such attempts,' the Chief Minister said while speaking at a protest rally at Birbhum district, which marked the beginning of Trinamool Congress' sustained weekly agitation programme against the alleged harassment of Bengali-speaking people in the BJP-ruled states. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister also gave a call to the migrant workers from West Bengal working in the BJP-ruled state to come back to Bengal instead of staying there and facing harassment. She also assured livelihood guarantees for the migrant workers returning to West Bengal from these BJP-ruled states. According to her, especially those Bengali-speaking people are being harassed in BJP-ruled states whose Bengali accents are similar to those spoken by the Bangladeshi residents. 'Many people came to India from East Pakistan at the time of partition and thereafter became citizens of the country. Even after coming to India, they continued to speak in the accent that they used to speak when Bangladesh was a part of undivided India. So that same accent is still there in their speech. But that could not be a reason that they would be harassed,' the Chief Minister said. She also said that while she is not against any language but would not tolerate any attack on the Bengali language, which is being done through harassment of Bengali-speaking people in the BJP-ruled states. She claimed that Haryana, Assam, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Odisha are the worst offenders on this count. 'I am not against any language. But I am against any kind of divisive politics. I want India to remain united,' she said. Meanwhile, leader of the opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, said that instead of making false allegations about harassment of Bengalis in other states, the Chief Minister should concentrate on employment generation so that lakhs of people from West Bengal don't need to migrate to other states in search of livelihood.
Hans India
15 minutes ago
- Hans India
Telangana ministers pay tributes to Jaipal Reddy on death anniversary
Hyderabad: Telangana ministers and Congress leaders paid rich tributes to former Union Minister S. Jaipal Reddy on his death anniversary. Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar, Legislative Council Chairman G. Sukhender Reddy, Ministers Ponnam Prabhakar, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Vivek Venkatswamy, and Adluri Lakshman Kumar, government advisor K. Keshava Rao, former Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya and others paid floral tributes at Spoorthi Sthal, Necklace Road here. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy also paid tributes to Jaipal Reddy on his death anniversary. In his message, he remembered that Jaipal Reddy was one of the top statemen in national politics with a deep understanding of democracy and politics. The veteran leader was also an excellent orator, and his witty banter on every issue drew big applause from all. Recalling Jaipal Reddy's political journey from student days to the level of Union Minister, CM Revanth Reddy said that the leader's tireless efforts for the welfare of people were commendable. Jaipal Reddy's important role in fulfilling the aspirations of Telangana people for a separate state will be remembered forever, the CM said. Jaipal Reddy never compromised on values in the pursuit of high-standard politics, the Chief Minister said. He recalled that the senior-most leader achieved the distinction of being the first leader from South India to receive the Best Parliamentarian Award. The befitting tribute to Jaipal Reddy is to take forward his aspirations, the CM added. State ministers and senior Congress leaders paid tributes to Jaipal Reddy, who passed away in 2019 at the age of 77. After the Congress party came to power in Telangana, it decided to celebrate the birth and death anniversary of Jaipal Reddy in a befitting manner. Spoorthi Sthal, a memorial built to honour Jaipal Reddy, was inaugurated on his 82nd birth anniversary last year. The memorial has come up on the banks of Hussain Sagar lake on Necklace Road, next to the memorial of former Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao.
