BHUBANESWAR: The tragic death of a young student from Balasore’s Fakir Mohan Autonomous College has ignited a fierce political storm in Odisha, with opposition parties sharpening their attack on the state’s BJP-led government. The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Tuesday held a blistering press conference, directly demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and senior state education officials, holding them “morally accountable” for the institutional failures that led to the incident. The 20-year-old student, who attempted self-immolation on July 12 in front of the college principal’s office following alleged harassment, succumbed to her injuries late last night at AIIMS Bhubaneswar. Her death has since become a rallying point for opposition parties seeking justice and administrative accountability. Addressing the media, senior BJD MLA Byomkesh Ray lashed out at the BJP government, accusing it of standing by as a “silent spectator” while the student fought a desperate battle for justice. “The girl tagged the Odisha Chief Minister, Union education minister, state education officials, and her local BJP MP, seeking their intervention. None responded. They failed her in life and in death. They must resign immediately,” Ray demanded. The BJD announced plans for statewide protests and vowed to mobilise public support to press for sweeping institutional reforms and accountability at the highest levels. Meanwhile, the Odisha Congress on Tuesday called for a statewide bandh on July 17, seeking public solidarity and a complete shutdown to protest what it termed “governmental apathy” and to demand justice for the victim. Reacting sharply, BJP youth wing state president Abhilash Panda accused the BJD of indulging in cynical politics over a tragedy. “Where was the BJD when she was alive and crying for help? Their sudden activism reeks of political theatrics aimed at exploiting a young woman’s death for electoral mileage,” Panda said. He defended the state government’s response, pointing to the immediate arrest of the accused faculty member Sameer Ranjan Sahoo, the suspension and subsequent arrest of Principal Dillip Ghosh, and the constitution of a high-level inquiry committee. “All actions have been taken swiftly and as per law. The government is committed to ensuring justice,” Panda asserted.
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