'Trying to cover-up incident': Congress lashes out at BJP govt over Balasore student's death

Following the death of the 20-year-old girl student from Balasore's Fakir Mohan Autonomous College, who attempted self-immolation, Congress leader Yashir Nawaz lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and said that the party was trying to cover up the incident, and demanded strict action against those responsible.

While speaking to ANI, Nawaz said, "They are trying to cover the incident with the help of ABVP... This is the fault of the BJP government... Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj must be removed... There must be strict action against those responsible...The government, with the help of the police, want to take the body away after the postmortem. There is no action against the Higher Education Minister; he has not been sacked. No action has been taken against those responsible..."

Nawaz further stated that it was unfortunate that the student had to beg for justice and lost her life for dignity and self-respect.

"It is so unfortunate that a student begged for justice to the MP, SP, principal, Higher Education Minister and the CM, but even after being an ABVP leader, she was not safe. She lost her lie for her dignity and self-respect. We are protesting because they are conducting the post-mortem at 2 am. When we met the AIIMS doctors in the evening, they clearly told us that she was 95% burnt, she had low chances of survival..." he further said.

Meanwhile, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Elina Dash on Tuesday accused the state government and police of covering up the incident, claiming the student had died earlier than officially declared.

Alleging a deliberate delay to coincide with President Droupadi Murmu's visit, Dash alleged the authorities tried to move the body secretly at night.

She also demanded the resignation of the Higher Education Minister and the Chief Minister, vowing statewide protests until justice is delivered.

Speaking to ANI, Elina Dash said, "They officially declared at night that she is no more, but we knew she had died when she was 95 per cent burnt. They staged the entire drama because the President was going to come. They had a plan to take the dead body discreetly during the night... We are fighting for justice. We will not leave until she and her family get justice... The police are the partner in crime and are protecting them in everything... We will not let them take the body away till the Higher Education Minister and the Chief Minister resign... There will be protests in every district and village..."

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) workers staged a protest as the mortal remains of the deceased student were being taken to the postmortem centre of AIIMS.