Odisha Student Death Is A Murder By BJP System : Rahul Gandhi

The second-year student of the integrated BEd course at Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore succumbed on Monday night after battling for three days.

The Congress leader and leader of opposition in Lok Sabha,Rahul Gandhi,in a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the incident, said, "The death of a daughter fighting for justice in Odisha is nothing less than a murder by the BJP system."

The student had accused the Head of the Department (HOD) of sexual and mental harassment. However, no concrete action was taken against the accused, which led the distressed student to set herself ablaze on Saturday, resulting in 95 percent burns.

Expressing grief over the incident, Rahul Gandhi held the BJP responsible for the incident. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha wrote on social media platform 'X', "The death of a daughter fighting for justice in Odisha is nothing less than a murder by the BJP system."

He added, "The brave student raised her voice against sexual exploitation, but instead of delivering justice, she was threatened, harassed, and repeatedly humiliated. Those who were supposed to protect her kept breaking her."

The Congress leader also attacked Prime Minister Modi, questioning his silence on such incidents.

Rahul Gandhi said, "Modi ji, whether in Odisha or Manipur, the daughters of the country are burning, breaking, and dying. And you? You remain silent. The country doesn't need your silence; it demands answers. The daughters of India need safety and justice."

Notably, after the self-immolation, the student was initially admitted to the Balasore district hospital and later shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for better treatment.

According to officials, she was being treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the 'Burn Center' department.The 'Burn Center' stated, "The patient was given fluids and antibiotics, placed on a ventilator, and treated in the department's ICU. Despite all possible supportive measures, including kidney replacement therapy, she could not be saved and was declared dead at 11:46 PM on July 14."

Meanwhile, the Head of the Education Department, Samir Kumar Sahu, and the principal of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College, Dilip Ghosh, have been arrested.