Congress slams BJP over Odisha self immolation case

THE Congress on Sunday termed as a “national tragedy” a woman student of a college in Balasore district allegedly setting herself on fire over alleged sexual harassment, and said women across India feel unsafe especially because of the ruling party's tendency to stand with the accused instead of the victim.

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A woman student of a college in Balasore district, who had lodged a sexual harassment complaint against a teacher, on Saturday allegedly set herself on fire on the institute's campus and sustained 90 per cent burn injuries, police said.

Another male student, who attempted to save her, also suffered injuries, and both were rushed to the district headquarters hospital here.

Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said it is a “national tragedy" that a young woman in Odisha was forced to set herself on fire after facing relentless sexual harassment by her college's Head of the Department.

"She pleaded for help - informally to the Principal, formally to the Internal Complaints Committee, and publicly to the CM and Education Minister on social media. Yet, her complaints went unheard,” Khera said on X.