Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], July 23 : Odisha Congress chief Bhakta Charan Das on Wednesday severely lambasted the BJP government in Odisha over atrocities against women in the state.
Das also asked the main opposition party, Biju Janata Dal (BJD), to move a no-confidence motion against the state government and assured his party's support for it.
"Atrocities are being committed against women in Odisha. We have seen many incidents. The central and state governments are not taking responsibility and feeling ashamed. BJD, the opposition party, should move a no-confidence motion against the BJP government and Congress will support it," Das told ANI.
The opposition in Odisha has criticised the BJP-led state government over a recent surge in crimes against women, which have drawn significant public attention.
Earlier on Tuesday, reacting to the arrest of Congress student leader Udit Pradhan for allegedly raping a 19-year-old woman, Odisha Pradesh Congress President Bhakta Charan Das said that the party has suspended him with immediate effect and reaffirmed its "zero tolerance" policy towards crimes against women.
Speaking to ANI, Das said, "We have taken immediate action and suspended him with immediate effect till the inquiry is over. The Congress Party has been fighting against the atrocities against women. We will keep fighting against this until it is over in Odisha. We have zero tolerance against this."
As per the police, the incident happened on Friday night when the girl was allegedly given an intoxicating substance in a drink by the accused before he allegedly committed the offence. The incident reportedly took place in a hotel in Mancheswar, Bhubaneswar.
Police said, "There has been an allegation by a girl student about giving an intoxicating substance in a drink and then of rape in a hotel against one Udit Pradhan."
Odisha Police had arrested Udit Pradhan, President of the Odisha National Students' Union of India (NSUI), Congress party's student wing, in connection with the alleged rape of a student in Bhubaneswar, according to the Odisha Police Commissionerate.
"On the basis of the report submitted by the victim, an FIR has been registered at the Mancheswar Police Station and the accused, Udit Pradhan, has been arrested, Police said.
Police said, "There has been an allegation by a girl student about giving an intoxicating substance in a drink and then of rape in a hotel against one Udit Pradhan."
Pradhan has been suspended from the position of President of the Odisha National Students' Union of India (NSUI) with immediate effect, as per a statement issued by the NSUI National President.