NEWS DESK | THE POLITICS
Bhubaneswar — Days after the tragic death of Soumyashree Bisi, a student of Fakir Mohan (FM) College in Balasore who attempted self-immolation and later died at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, the political temperature in Odisha continues to rise. With grief still palpable and public anger simmering, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has accused Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party of “playing cheap politics” over the incident.
The row began after Congress MP Rahul Gandhi posted on X (formerly Twitter), alleging that Soumyashree’s death was not a suicide but “a direct murder by the BJP system.” He further wrote that she had repeatedly raised her voice against sexual harassment, faced harassment in return, and was left without institutional or administrative support. “This is not a suicide, this is a system-enabled murder,” Gandhi said.
Reacting sharply, Dharmendra Pradhan condemned the remarks, calling them “irresponsible” and “deeply unfortunate.”
“Rahul Gandhi and the Congress are exploiting a sensitive tragedy for political gain. This reflects a cheap mentality. When the entire country is grieving, they are searching for electoral opportunities,” Pradhan wrote.
He added that such statements disrespect the grieving family and called upon Gandhi to apologise for his remarks. “This is not the moment for political posturing but to ensure justice for the victim,” he stated.
Earlier, Pradhan had visited AIIMS Bhubaneswar and met Soumyashree’s family. He called the incident a reflection of systemic failure and assured that those responsible would not be spared. “The girl’s fight for justice was not heard in time. We must ensure this is not repeated,” he added.
While Pradhan emphasised restraint, the BJP’s narrative remains focused on framing Congress’s response as opportunistic, especially as the state gears up for municipal and student union elections.
At the same time, public discourse continues to highlight institutional gaps. Activists and student groups have raised uncomfortable questions — why were repeated complaints ignored? Why was there no timely intervention by the FM College administration? Why does the state’s educational grievance mechanism remain toothless?
Congress, for its part, has stood by its statement, insisting that the BJP government in Odisha failed to protect a student who was “screaming for help.”
As outrage grows, the incident has become more than a political flashpoint — it’s now a mirror to the state’s institutional fragility, raising pressing questions about student safety, accountability, and the politicisation of grief.
