Dharmendra Pradhan Attacks Rahul Gandhi For Doing 'Cheap Politics' Over Death Of Odisha Student

Union Minister and senior BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan launched a scathing attack on Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of politicising the tragic death of a 20-year-old student from Balasore, Odisha. The student, a resident of Fakir Mohan Autonomous College, died on Monday at AIIMS Bhubaneswar after attempting self-immolation.

Rahul Gandhi, in a post on social media platform X, blamed the BJP-led system for the incident, calling it "an organised murder." He wrote, "As always, the BJP's system continued to shield the accused and forced an innocent daughter to set herself on fire. This is not suicide; it is organised murder by the system." He further accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of remaining silent while "India's daughters are burning, breaking, and dying."

Responding sharply, Dharmendra Pradhan said, "Cheap politics played by Rahul Gandhi and Congress on the tragic incident involving Odisha's daughter is extremely unfortunate. Turning a serious and sensitive matter into a political weapon reflects Rahul Gandhi's petty mindset."

He asserted that Prime Minister Modi and the BJP have always prioritised women's safety and justice. "The Odisha government is fully committed to supporting the victim's family and ensuring the strictest action against the culprits. No one will be spared," Pradhan added.

Call for Apology

Pradhan urged Rahul Gandhi to apologise for his remarks, stating, "This is not the time for cheap politics but for ensuring justice. Rahul Gandhi should immediately apologize to the victim's family for his irresponsible statement."

Earlier, Congress workers had staged a protest outside AIIMS Bhubaneswar following the student's death, accusing authorities of shielding the accused. The police later detained several demonstrators.

Case History

The 20-year-old student had been undergoing treatment at AIIMS Bhubaneswar after sustaining severe burn injuries in an alleged self-immolation attempt. The case has triggered widespread outrage in Odisha, with demands for justice and swift legal action.