BJD demands resignation of Odisha CM
Bhubaneswar, July 13 (UNI) Holding the Odisha government responsible for the attempted self-immolation by a girl student of FM Autonomous College in Balasore, the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) today demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj.
BJD spokesperson Dr. Lenin Mohanty, in a statement, said both the Chief Minister and the Higher Education Minister should accept moral responsibility for the incident and step down.
He alleged that the victim had submitted written complaints to the Chief Minister, Higher Education Minister, and the Union Education Minister, seeking intervention over harassment by a college teacher.
However, no action was taken, which allegedly pushed her to take the extreme step of self-immolation.
Mohanty said the incident has shaken the entire state, raising serious questions about the government’s response. “The government appears to be making superficial efforts to suppress the matter,” he remarked.
According to Mohanty, the student had earlier complained to the college principal that a teacher was harassing her and seeking physical favours.
She had demanded the arrest of the accused teacher and the suspension of the principal. However, only after her self-immolation attempt, carried out in full public view, was the assistant professor suspended by the Government.
Mohanty further alleged that BJP-backed youths have been present at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, where the girl is undergoing treatment for nearly 90 per cent burn injuries, and are reportedly harassing members of civil society and organisations trying to visit the victim and her family.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Majhi, who returned from Delhi today, strongly condemned the incident.
He informed that the Higher Education Department has constituted a committee to probe the matter, and action will be taken based on its report.
Majhi assured that steps would be implemented to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Chief Minister visited AIIMS directly from the airport, discussed the girl’s health with the hospital director and doctors, and met her parents.
He assured them that if her condition improves, she will be airlifted to AIIMS Delhi for further treatment.
Meanwhile, activists of the Student and Youth Congress held a protest in front of the residence of the Higher Education Minister, demanding his resignation on moral grounds.
A scuffle broke out between protesters and police when they attempted to breach the barricades. Police later detained several Congress activists from the protest site.
