MPs Demand Justice Amid Soaring Violence Against Women and Children

Braving heavy rain, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Members of Parliament staged a protest outside Parliament House on Tuesday, accusing the BJP-led Odisha government of failing to protect women and children in the state. Holding placards and chanting slogans near the Mahatma Gandhi statue, the MPs demanded urgent action as reports of brutal crimes continue to emerge across Odisha.

Focus on Balasore and Puri Tragedies

The BJD leaders highlighted two recent high-profile cases:

• The tragic death of Soumyashree Bisi, a 20-year-old student from FM Autonomous College, Balasore, who died on July 14 after self-immolating due to alleged inaction over her sexual harassment complaints.

• The horrifying case of a 15-year-old minor girl in Puri, who was doused in petrol and set on fire on July 18. She remains in critical condition at AIIMS Delhi.

The party is demanding a judicial inquiry into Soumyashree’s case and stronger government response to gender-based violence in the state.

“Law and Order in Odisha is Collapsing”: Sasmit Patra

BJD MP Sasmit Patra condemned the administration of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, stating, “Women and children in Odisha are totally unprotected and unsafe. The law and order is collapsing.” He criticized the state for its lack of justice, citing the Balasore and Puri incidents as alarming examples of administrative failure.

Patra also called for Parliament and the central government to intervene, alleging that both state and central BJP governments have failed to address the growing threat to women’s safety—from Balasore to Bolangir.

“Let the Odisha Government Wake Up”: Sulata Deo

BJD MP Sulata Deo echoed the concerns, urging the BJP government to “wake up” and act before more women suffer. She referenced an alleged U.S. travel advisory labelling Odisha unsafe, and a Supreme Court case in Bolangir which, she said, had brought shame to the state.

“Our fight for the dignity and safety of Odisha’s women will continue—from the villages to the capital,” Deo asserted.

Statewide Agitations Intensify

The protest in Delhi follows a series of statewide BJD demonstrations, including bandhs and rallies in Bhubaneswar, many of which turned tense with clashes between protesters and police. Opposition parties, including the Congress, have also joined the movement, demanding CM Majhi’s resignation over the deteriorating law and order situation.

With public anger mounting, the political heat in Odisha shows no signs of cooling—especially as concerns about women’s safety grow louder at both state and national levels.