BJD plans 2-phase stir over women’s safety

The Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Tuesday announced a two-phase agitation between August 1 and 14 to protest the alleged rise in incidents of sexual assault against women and girls in Odisha.

- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

The BJD said that college and university students will write to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, expressing concerns over their safety—from campuses to public spaces like sea beaches. Students will also submit memoranda to all police stations and Superintendents of Police (SPs) across various districts, demanding a secure and academic-friendly environment.

BJD MLAs Byamokesh Ray and Devi Ranjan Tripathy, speaking at a press conference, said the party will carry out its agitation in two phases.

In Phase-I of the agitation, students will submit memoranda to the DGP between August 1 and 8, followed by letters to the Chief Minister from August 9 to 14, BJD MLA Byamokesh Ray said. He added that many students feel unsafe on campus, citing the tragic case of a woman student at Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore who died by self-immolation.