Himachal SFI Demands Resignation of Odisha Education Minister Over Student’s Death

The Himachal Pradesh unit of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) on Wednesday demanded the immediate resignation of Odisha Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj following the tragic death of a college student in Balasore, Odisha.

The 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan College succumbed to her injuries after setting herself on fire, allegedly in protest over inaction against a professor she had accused of sexual harassment. Her death on Wednesday has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation across the country.

Addressing a press conference in Shimla, SFI Himachal leaders said that the Odisha government had failed to protect the dignity and safety of students, and called the minister’s resignation a moral necessity. “The minister must take accountability. Justice cannot be delivered without fixing political responsibility,” said an SFI spokesperson.

The student’s immolation and subsequent death have triggered protests in Odisha and beyond, with various student organisations, civil society groups, and opposition parties demanding a judicial probe and swift action against the accused.

Meanwhile, political pressure continues to mount on the Odisha government, which has ordered an inquiry into the incident and suspended the accused professor pending investigation.