Bhubaneswar, July 18 (UNI) Eight Opposition political parties, led by the Congress, have announced that July 24 will be observed as ‘Remembrance Day’ across Odisha to pay tribute to Soumyashree, the FM Autonomous College student who died after a self-immolation bid under tragic circumstances.
Addressing a press conference on behalf of the joint opposition, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President Bhakta Charan Das today urged all schools, colleges, and universities in the state to observe two minutes of silence on July 24.
He also requested all government and private institutions to observe one minute of silence as a mark of respect. Das said that the Women’s Congress and women’s wings of the eight opposition parties will commemorate the day not only in memory of the Balasore college victim but also to pay tribute to other abducted or harassed women and girls in the state.
He added that the Congress Party’s Political Affairs Committee has decided to launch a women’s grievance cell to support victims of harassment. “Women can file complaints through a dedicated app, and the PCC will assist and monitor the investigation,” Das informed.
Odisha Congress in-charge Ajay Kumar Lallu announced that a meeting of the INDIA bloc will be held in Delhi on July 19, where the Balasore victim’s issue will be raised. He confirmed that the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will take up the matter in Parliament.
The Congress has demanded a judicial inquiry headed by a sitting High Court judge, monitored by the court itself. Lallu further urged the state government to immediately appoint a Women’s Commission to address issues related to gender safety.
Congress Legislature Party leader Ramachandra Kadam stated that the party would raise Soumyashree’s case in the Odisha Assembly during the upcoming session.
The Joint Opposition also expressed gratitude to the people of Odisha for the success of the statewide bandh on July 17, which was called to demand justice for Soumyashree.
The bandh, organised by Congress, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML)-Liberation, All India Forward Bloc, RJD, SP, and NCP, was described as peaceful, historic, and widely supported by students, youth, women, workers, traders, and the general public.
Former Union Minister Srikant Jena remarked, “This is perhaps the first such peaceful and successful shutdown in the history of India.” He emphasised that the agitation for women’s safety will continue in the coming days.
CPI(M) leader Suresh Panigrahi demanded the resignation of the state government in light of the incident and reiterated that a judicial, not Crime Branch, investigation should be initiated.
