Aparajita Sarangi Slams BJD, Congress Over Women’s Safety Protests, Says They Lack Moral Right to Speak
Bhubaneswar, July 17 : BJP MP and national spokesperson Aparajita Sarangi on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Congress, accusing both parties of politicising the tragic death of Balasore FM College student Somyashree Bisi and lacking the moral authority to speak on women’s safety issues.

Addressing the media in Bhubaneswar, Sarangi said that both parties were using the incident for political mileage rather than sincerely working towards addressing the concerns of women in Odisha.

“It is evident from their behaviour and statements that both BJD and Congress are merely seeking attention. They are acting like right-wingers and sweeping like witches. Their primary objective seems to be to stay visible in the news,” Sarangi stated.

Calling the suicide of the college student “heartbreaking and deeply saddening,” she said the entire state was shaken by the incident, and that the focus should be on ensuring justice for the victim and strengthening women’s safety mechanisms — not disrupting public order.

She criticised the opposition for taking to the streets without introspecting on their own track records.

“If the Congress and BJD had truly prioritised women’s safety during their respective regimes, the situation wouldn’t have come to this point. Before protesting, they must reflect on their past failures,” Sarangi said.

Highlighting the proactive response of the newly formed BJP government, Sarangi praised Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s immediate action in the FM College case. She said the accused professor was suspended and arrested swiftly, and the college principal was also taken into custody within 24 hours based on a high-level committee’s findings.

“CM Majhi personally met the victims twice, ensured they received the best treatment, and even offered to have them airlifted to Delhi if needed,” she said, contrasting it with what she described as the inaction of previous BJD governments.

Sarangi further accused the student wings of the opposition of playing a role in the tragic incident. She cited an FIR filed by the deceased girl’s brother at Bhograi police station, alleging continued harassment from Congress and BJD workers and expressing concern for the family’s safety.

“There is social media evidence pointing to Chhatra Congress leaders instigating the suicide. This is highly condemnable and alarming,” she added.

The BJP spokesperson reiterated the state government’s commitment to women’s safety and assured that Odisha would follow a zero-tolerance approach to crimes against women.

“Strict action will be taken not only in this case but to ensure that such incidents never recur in any educational institution. The state government stands firmly with the victim’s family and all the women and girls of Odisha,” Sarangi said.

The remarks come amid rising political tensions and widespread protests across Odisha, following the tragic death of Somyashree Bisi, who had accused a professor of sexual harassment. The issue has triggered a major political storm, with the opposition targeting the BJP government over women’s safety and the ruling party hitting back with counter-allegations.