BJP Demands Apology from BJD and Congress After High Court Criticism

Political Fallout from Tragic Incident

Bhubaneswar: Following a recent ruling from the Orissa High Court that criticized opposition parties for causing public inconvenience through a bandh, the BJP has called for apologies from both the BJD and Congress.

BJP spokesperson Anil Biswal emphasized the government's commitment to women's safety during a press briefing.

The incident in question involved a second-year Integrated B.Ed student from Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore, who tragically set herself on fire on July 12 after alleging that her complaints against a professor were ignored.

The 20-year-old succumbed to her injuries at AIIMS Bhubaneswar on July 14, suffering from 95% burns.

Biswal noted that the Orissa High Court expressed satisfaction with the Crime Branch's investigation into the Balasore case, dismissing calls for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and judicial inquiry as unnecessary.

He stated that the court also issued notices to the BJD and Congress regarding their actions during the bandh, which allegedly harassed the public.

Biswal accused these parties of politicizing the tragedy and insisted they should apologize for their actions.

He reiterated that the BJP government prioritizes women's safety and has a strict stance against violence towards women.

The spokesperson highlighted that numerous cases of violence against women went unreported during the BJD and Congress's governance, accusing them of hypocrisy.

He questioned why the public had to endure a forced shutdown when the government had already apprehended the suspects and was conducting a thorough investigation.

According to reports, the state incurred a loss of approximately Rs 1,500 crore due to the Congress-led shutdown, and Biswal claimed that the people of Odisha now recognize the ulterior motives of these political parties.

A division bench led by Chief Justice Harish Tandon issued notices to both parties, stating that the July 17 bandh disrupted daily life.

The bench condemned the political maneuvering surrounding the incident, which included bandh calls, road blockades, and protests that violated Supreme Court directives.