New Delhi [India], July 15: BJP MP and former NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma has condemned the death of a 20-year-old Balasore student, calling it a “very serious matter” and holding the college administration accountable for ignoring the student’s sexual harassment complaint.
The student, from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Odisha, self-immolated after facing prolonged harassment from her Head of Department. Despite filing a complaint and seeking help, she reportedly received no action or protection, ultimately leading to her tragic death. AIIMS Bhubaneswar confirmed her demise on Monday.
Addressing the political fallout, Sharma hit back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who had earlier blamed the BJP for systemic failure, calling the incident an “organised murder by the BJP’s system.”
In response, Rekha Sharma stated:
“Instead of politicising such a sensitive issue, Rahul Gandhi should stand by the victim’s family. The college was negligent, and that’s where the blame should begin. But I’ve never seen Rahul or Priyanka Gandhi speak against atrocities in West Bengal or Congress-ruled states. Why the selective outrage?”
Rahul Gandhi had alleged the victim was “threatened, humiliated and denied justice,” calling the system that failed her “a murder machine.” He also called out Prime Minister Modi for remaining silent, saying:
“Modi ji, whether in Odisha or Manipur, India’s daughters are burning and dying. The country needs answers, not silence.”
The student, after lodging a formal complaint, saw no institutional support. She set herself on fire on July 12 and succumbed to injuries after being treated at AIIMS Bhubaneswar for over two days.