Latest news with #UditNarayanPradhan
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Cong, BJP spar as posters come up of arrested NSUI state chief with Rahul
Bhubaneswar: A day after National Students' Union of India's state president Udit Narayan Pradhan was arrested on charges of raping a 19-year-old student in the city, posters have surfaced throughout Bhubaneswar displaying images of the suspended Congress member alongside Lok Sabha MP Rahul Gandhi. The giant posters have come up at prominent places including Janpath, sparking heated exchanges between the Congress and BJP . State Congress president Bhakta Charan Das accused the BJP of having orchestrated this poster campaign to defame the party. "We are certain about BJP's involvement in this negative poster campaign against the Congress. This indicates BJP's apprehension towards Congress, which has strengthened its protests regarding the reported rise in crimes against women," Das said. "BJP cannot stifle our voice. Women safety is our biggest focus. Our protest will be intensified in the coming days," he added even as another Congress member criticised the BMC for not pulling down such unauthorised posters. The Congress formed a six-member committee on Monday to investigate the allegations against Pradhan. The party indicated it would support strict action if the charges were proven true. Responding strongly to the allegations, BJP MLA Babu Singh said, "Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones at others. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 most beautiful women in the world Undo The arrest of Udit Pradhan has exposed the double standard of Congress on issues of women's safety." Avilash Panda, state president of BJP's youth wing, criticised Congress for appointing Pradhan as NSUI Odisha president. "Days before his appointment (Aug 2024), he was arrested in a criminal case in Bhubaneswar. Still, the Congress made him the NSUI state president," Panda said. Amid the BJP-Congress confrontation over Pradhan's arrest, BJD president and former chief minister Naveen Patnaik expressed concern over an alleged increase in crimes against women. "A disturbing wave of crimes against women is gripping Odisha. This surge in sexual assaults reflects a troubling erosion of law enforcement. When various ranks of the police face interference and political pressure, accountability weakens — and women and girls pay the price first," Naveen wrote in a social media post.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Congress faces heat as Odisha NSUI leader held for rape
In a major embarrassment for the Congress, which has been vocal in criticising the BJP government over recent crimes against women in Odisha, the state president of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), Udit Narayan Pradhan (27), was arrested on Monday for allegedly raping a 19-year-old BBA student in a Bhubaneswar hotel in March, The Times of India reported. Following his arrest, NSUI suspended Pradhan with immediate effect, pending an internal inquiry. According to the FIR, the woman filed a police complaint on Sunday night alleging that Pradhan had spiked her cold drink with drugs before sexually assaulting her in a hotel on March 18. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Digital Marketing Degree Healthcare Management Data Analytics Operations Management others Technology Finance CXO Others Artificial Intelligence Data Science MBA Project Management Leadership Design Thinking Product Management Public Policy Data Science Skills you'll gain: Digital Marketing Strategies Customer Journey Mapping Paid Advertising Campaign Management Emerging Technologies in Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Strategies Customer Journey Mapping Paid Advertising Campaign Management Emerging Technologies in Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Strategies Customer Journey Mapping Paid Advertising Campaign Management Emerging Technologies in Digital Marketing Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Digital Marketing and Analytics Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Digital Marketing Strategy Search Engine Optimization (SEO) & Content Marketing Social Media Marketing & Advertising Data Analytics & Measurement Duration: 24 Weeks Indian School of Business Professional Certificate Programme in Digital Marketing Starts on Jun 26, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Digital Marketing Strategies Customer Journey Mapping Paid Advertising Campaign Management Emerging Technologies in Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Strategies Customer Journey Mapping Paid Advertising Campaign Management Emerging Technologies in Digital Marketing Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Digital Marketing and Analytics Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Digital Marketing Strategies Customer Journey Mapping Paid Advertising Campaign Management Emerging Technologies in Digital Marketing Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Digital Marketing and Analytics Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details The FIR also noted the delay in reporting the assault, stating that Pradhan had threatened the survivor. She reportedly feared going to the police, given Pradhan's prominent position in the Congress student wing. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The World's Oldest Living Actors. Reportingly Undo However, the survivor told police that she found courage to speak out after several women came forward seeking justice in the wake of the Balasore self-immolation case . 'This encouraged me to approach the police,' she said. In her complaint, the woman stated that she had been travelling with two friends — one male and one female — when Pradhan, whom she did not know at the time, joined them. They later checked into a hotel where the alleged assault occurred. The FIR added that Pradhan was apparently known to her male friend, who was driving the car. Live Events NSUI national president Varun Choudhary said in a statement on X that Pradhan had been suspended in view of recent developments. 'NSUI maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards gender-based injustice and is unwavering in its commitment to accountability and justice. Our fight for justice for the Balasore victim will continue with full resolve,' Choudhary said. Meanwhile, the NSUI's Odisha unit came out in defence of Pradhan, alleging in a post on X that the BJP government had orchestrated his arrest because he was 'fighting tirelessly' for the rights of women and students.
