Balasore, July 15: Amid the ongoing slugfest between the ruling BJP and opposition BJD and Congress over the death of Soumyashree Bisi, a girl student of Fakir Mohan Autonomous College following self-immolation bid over sexual harassment by a teacher, Balaram Bisi, the father of the deceased girl, on Tuesday urged all not to politicise the matter.
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“My daughter passed away. My family is really disturbed. I am in mental trauma. So, I request everyone not politicise the matter,” said Balaram while speaking to media persons at his native place Palisia in Bhogari area of Balasore district.
Expressing gratitude to all those for raising voice for her daughter, Balaram said, “The Government is sensitive on this issue. Government has taken some action and assured us of more actions in coming days. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Deputy Chief Minister Pravtai Parida have talked to me. Even President Droupadi Mumru also discussed with me for 10 minutes and prayed for my daughter’s recovery yesterday. Unfortunately, my daughter didn’t survive.”
“Hence, I request everyone not politicize the matter but I will fight for justice till my last breath,” said Balaram.
The 20-year-old B.Ed. student Soumyashree from FM (Autonomous) College died on Monday night at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, three days after she set herself ablaze on campus. She had suffered 95 per cent burns. The student had earlier accused her department head Samira Kumar Sahoo of repeated sexual harassment and filed complaints with college authorities. However, no action was taken against the accused forcing her to take the drastic step.
Following the death of Soumyashree, opposition parties have launched a scathing attack on the BJP Government with Congress calling for Odisha Bandh on July 17 and BJD president Naveen Patnaik urging the Governor to ensure that that not only the college authorities but also those who are in power who "failed" to take action on the student's pleas be held responsible.
Meanwhile, Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also accused the BJP of ‘forcing an innocent daughter to set herself on fire and said that it was nothing less than an organized murder by the system.”
