New Delhi [India], July 13 : Congress leader Pawan Khera on Sunday slammed the "Double Engine Sarkar" highlighting the institutional apathy and criminal complicity after a young woman in Odisha was driven to self-immolation facing relentless sexual harassment by her college Head of Department (HoD).
He said that despite her repeated pleas for help, including to the Principal, Internal Complaints Committee, and even the Chief Minister and Education Minister on social media, her complaints fell on deaf ears.
A student of the Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Odisha's Balasore was admitted to the AIIMS Bhubaneswar hospital on July 12 after she allegedly self-immolated.
Khera stressed that the victim's complaints were ignored, and even a BJP MP's demand for the HoD's suspension was brushed aside by the college Principal.
"A BJP MP had demanded the HoD's suspension but even he was brushed aside - by the college Principal. As such, it is safe to call the Double Engine Sarkar a cruel joke. Because it does not even empower a local MP from the ruling party enough to prevail over a college Principal in a matter so crucial and sensitive", Pawan Khera's 'X' post read.
BJP MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi on Saturday informed that he was told about the matter by the woman and her friends, following which he spoke to the college principal and the Superintendent of Police of Balasore.
Sarangi said that the woman had attempted suicide before as well, and when he heard the news, the BJP MP said he called the college principal, but there was no response.
"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 HoD. 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", Pawan Khera wrote on 'X'.
Pawan Khera termed the incident a "criminal complicity" and demanded strict action against the accused, HoD, and others involved in the Balasore self-immolation case.
"This is institutional apathy but even more, it is criminal complicity. The culprit, HoD must face the law for driving a woman to self-immolation, but the Principal and the ICC must also be held accountable - not merely for negligence, but for abutment", Khera wrote on 'X'.
Pawan Khera claimed that the victim was an Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad office bearer in a BJP ruled state and mentioned that if this is the "fate" of their "own woman" what can ordinary women do with no access to networks of power.
"Notably, the victim was an ABVP office bearer in a BJP-ruled state. If this is the fate of their own, what can ordinary women - with no access to networks of power - in Odisha, and beyond, possibly expect?", Khera added.
Earlier today AIIMS Bhubaneswar, Director Dr Ashutosh Biswas assured that the medical team is providing the best possible care to the patient of the Balasore self-immolation case.
The student was admitted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar with severe burns, covering almost 90-95% of her body. She is currently on a ventilator in the ICU, and her condition is critical.
"Yesterday, we received the patient in critical condition. The patient is on a ventilator in the ICU. She has almost 90-95 per cent burns. The patient is critical, we are trying our best. We are providing the best possible care to the patient. A committee has been formed to look after various aspects, multi-disciplinary critical care...," Dr Biswas told ANI.
Balasore Police on Saturday arrested the accused in the FM (Auto) College female student self-immolation attempt case and produced her before the court.
Meanwhile, the Odisha government have formed a committee to conduct a thorough inquiry into the alleged harassment case against Samira Kumar Sahu, Assistant Professor at FM Auto College, who has been arrested following the suicide attempt by a female student of the college on July 12.