Odisha self-immolation case: Rahul Gandhi blames 'BJP's system' for student's death; Dharmendra Pradhan calls it 'petty politics'

NEW DELHI: A political tussle erupted in Odisha on Tuesday after the college student who had attempted self-immolation over alleged sexual harassment by a senior faculty member, succumbed to her injuries.

While opposition parties Congress and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) blamed the "BJP system", the ruling party hit back by asking the opposition, specifically Congress' Rahul Gandhi, not to indulge in "cheap politics."

Gandhi, the Lok Sabha leader of opposition, called the girl's death an "organized murder."

"The death of a daughter fighting for justice in Odisha is nothing less than a murder by the BJP's system. 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. 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," he posted on social media.

ओडिशा में इंसाफ़ के लिए लड़ती एक बेटी की मौत, सीधे-सीधे BJP के सिस्टम द्वारा की गई हत्या है।

उस बहादुर छात्रा ने यौन शोषण के ख़िलाफ़ आवाज़ उठाई - लेकिन न्याय देने के बजाय, उसे धमकाया गया, प्रताड़ित किया गया, बार-बार अपमानित किया गया।

जिन्हें उसकी रक्षा करनी थी, वही उसे तोड़ते…

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 15, 2025

The Congress ex-chief also asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break silence on incidents of violence against women.

BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik, Odisha's former chief minister whose government was defeated by the BJP last year, made a similar statement.

"It is 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," Patnaik wrote on X.

ଏମ୍ସରେ ଚିକିତ୍ସିତ ହେଉଥିବା ବାଲେଶ୍ୱର ଏଫଏମ କଲେଜ ପୀଡ଼ିତା ଛାତ୍ରୀଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତ ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ ଓ ମର୍ମାହତ। ଏପରି ସମୟକୁ ସାମ୍ନା କରିବା ପାଇଁ ମହାପ୍ରଭୁ ପରିବାର ଲୋକଙ୍କୁ ଅସୀମ ଧୈର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଦିଅନ୍ତୁ।

ମନକୁ ଏହା ଅଧିକ ବିଚଳିତ କରୁଛି ଯେ, କିପରି ଗୋଟେ ବିଫଳ ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥା ଜଣଙ୍କ ଜୀବନ ନେଇଯାଇପାରେ। ସବୁଠୁ କଷ୍ଟଦାୟକ ହେଉଛି,…

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) July 15, 2025

Further, the veteran politician urged the Odisha governor to take action against the college authorities and the state government.

Union minister Pradhan, an Odisha native, responded by saying that Gandhi's comment shows reflect the latter's "petty mindset."

"The cheap politics 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 @RahulGandhi ’s petty mindset. PM Modi and the BJP have always taken concrete steps for women’s safety and justice, while the Congress has consistently sought to politicize every tragedy. 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," Pradhan said.

राहुल गांधी और कांग्रेस का ओडिशा की बेटी के साथ हुए दुखद घटना पर ओछी राजनीति बेहद दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण है। एक गंभीर और संवेदनशील मामले को राजनीतिक हथियार बनाना, @RahulGandhi की सस्ती मानसिकता को दर्शाता है। ओडिशा की घटना ने पूरे देश को झकझोर दिया है, लेकिन कांग्रेस ने इसे भी अपनी…

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) July 15, 2025

The student attempted self-immolation on July 12 outside the college gate, where a protest had been going on since July 1 seeking action against the accused.