“If the CM has an iota of sympathy for the family, he must ask for the resignation of the education minister..."

The Death Of Self-Immolated Girl, Balasore Odisha Latest News

Balasore, Odisha: Leader of the Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday has strongly criticized the BJP government over the death of the Balasore student who self-immolated, calling the incident “nothing less than a murder by the BJP's system.”

“The death of a daughter fighting for justice in Odisha is nothing less than a murder by the BJP's system,” Gandhi wrote in a post on X.

The student succumbed to her injuries on Monday night.

"The patient was resuscitated with IV fluids, IV antibiotics, intubated and put on mechanical ventilation. Despite adequate resuscitation and all possible supportive management, including renal replacement therapy at the Burns ICU, she could not be revived and was declared clinically dead at 11:46 PM on July 14," said AIIMS Bhubaneswar.

Rahul Gandhi, in his post, said, “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.”

The Congress MP alleged that the BJP government continuously protected the accused. “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 organized murder by the system,” Gandhi said.

He also called out Prime Minister Narendra Modi for keeping mum on grievous incidents happening in the country. “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,” he added.

The student from Fakir Mohan College in Balasore, who succumbed to burn injuries, was cremated at her native place on Tuesday.

The Minister of Education and MP (Lok Sabha) from Sambalpur, Dharmendra Pradhan, criticized Rahul Gandhi for his remarks on the tragic demise, calling it “cheap politics” and accused him of turning a “sensitive matter into a political weapon.”

“The cheap politics played by Rahul Gandhi and Congress on the tragic incident involving Odisha’s daughter is extremely unfortunate. Turning a serious and sensitive matter into a political weapon reflects Rahul Gandhi’s petty mindset. … Congress has seized this opportunity to bake its political bread,” Pradhan said in a post on X.

“Prime Minister Modi ji and the BJP have always taken concrete steps for women’s safety and justice, while Congress has consistently sought opportunities in every tragedy. On this incident, the Odisha government stands with the victim’s family with full sensitivity, and the strictest action will be taken against the culprits; no one will be spared. However, this is not the time for cheap politics but for ensuring justice for the victim’s family. Rahul Gandhi should immediately apologize to the victim’s family for his irresponsible statement,” Pradhan added.

President of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Naveen Patnaik, also expressed deep sadness over the death.

In a post on X, Naveen Patnaik wrote, “deeply saddened and heartbroken to learn about the demise… May the Almighty grant infinite patience to her family to face such a time.”

Naveen Patnaik also criticized the system that led to the tragic incident.

“It is even more disturbing to think how a failed system can take someone's life. The most painful part is that this was not an accident, but rather the result of a system that remained silent instead of helping. Struggling for justice, the girl ultimately closed her eyes,” Naveen Patnaik said.

Patnaik claimed that the girl had even approached a Union Minister and the Balasore MP, and said that even if one person had intervened, “perhaps the girl’s life could have been saved.”

“With great courage, she had written to the college principal, informing them about the sexual harassment she had faced. Even after being ignored by the college authorities, she did not give up. To seek justice, she reached out to the Higher Education Minister, the Chief Minister’s office, and even a Union Minister. She also personally met the Balasore MP to share her plight. If even one person had taken responsibility and intervened personally, perhaps the girl’s life could have been saved,” Patnaik said.

He further stated that the girl lost her life not only due to the physical trauma but also “because of the negligence of the state government, which left her alone in her struggle.”

Calling the incident an “institutional betrayal—a planned injustice,” he urged “the Honorable Governor to ensure that not only the college authorities but also those in power, who failed to take any action despite the victim’s desperate pleas, are held accountable.”

BJP MP and former NCW chief Rekha Sharma stated, “There was negligence on the part of the college for not acting on the student's complaint. Instead of doing politics on such issues, Rahul Gandhi should stand by the victim's family. I have never heard Rahul and Priyanka speak against atrocities against women in West Bengal. They remain quiet when such incidents happen in Congress-ruled states.”

BJD leader Amar Patnaik stated, "... We are all deeply distressed and anguished. The student community in Odisha are completely shocked at this negligence and callousness. A government that refused to listen to a student begging for justice and mercy from sexual harassment by her teacher…”

Amar Patnaik continued, “She had approached the local MLA, local administration, MP, the concerned minister, and finally she tweeted, tagging the CM and the education minister... Nobody listened to her plea for help... Heads must roll. The BJP must take action against the concerned ministers, the MP and the local political leaders whom she had gone to plead with. She belonged to ABVP.”

He also called for strict actions against the offenders. “The internal complaints committee report was a sham. Their role must be investigated. A judicial inquiry and a crime branch inquiry must be initiated…”

“If the CM has an iota of sympathy for the family, he must ask for the resignation of the education minister... Educational system in our state cannot be denigrated to this extent..."

Meanwhile, SP leader Rajeev Rai stated, "Rahul Gandhi should also speak about UP, where suicide was attempted outside the CM's residence. There were 14 murders in a single day. There are loots and rapes. No one knows where the Anti-Romeo squads are. Rahul Gandhi should also mention Uttar Pradesh when he speaks about such issues…”

'Odisha Bandh' on 17th July

Odisha State Congress President Bhakta Charan Das has called for an 'Odisha Bandh' on 17th July over the death of the Balasore student.

Das told ANI, “…She even went to the MLA…The MP also did not take this matter seriously... Was it not their responsibility to take this matter seriously?”

“Our demand is that the Education Minister, the MLA, and the MP, all three, should resign, and their party should expel all three... On the 17th, we have called for an Odisha bandh, and we appeal to all sections to support it..." Das said.

In Bhubaneswar, CPI(M) leader Suresh Panigrahi stated, "Joint opposition has resolved that Odisha will be closed on 17th July... The victim girl appealed to Odisha government, local MP and MLA, Principal, District Collector and SP and Higher Education Minister of state and centre but nothing happened... We demand strict judicial investigation of the whole incident, Higher Education Minister should resign and some action should be taken against local MLA and MP... This is the demand of 8 united political parties of Odisha..."

(For more news apart from “Odisha Congress Forms Fact-Finding Committee on Balasore Self-Immolation Case, Pawan Khera Slams BJP,” stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)