The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) launched a scathing attack on Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi, accusing her of indulging in “cheap politics” over the tragic suicide of Soumyashree, a young student from Balasore.
In a press conference held at Sankha Bhawan, BJD leaders criticised Sarangi’s recent remarks, alleging they were aimed at shielding the failures of her party’s state government.
BJD Vice-President Snehangini Chhuria and former MP Rajashree Mallick led the charge, condemning Sarangi for failing to address the issue with sensitivity. Chhuria questioned why Sarangi, a woman leader, was not amplifying the victim’s plea for justice. “Instead of seeking justice for a sister, the MP is busy playing cheap politics to appease her party’s government,” Chhuria remarked. She highlighted that while the public mourns Soumyashree’s death, Sarangi was quick to praise the state government, ignoring its alleged inaction.
The BJD leaders pointed out that Soumyashree had faced harassment from individuals linked to the opposition, which reportedly drove her to take the extreme step. Chhuria criticised the government’s “zero tolerance” stance, questioning why no action was taken when the student sought justice from authorities, including the college principal, police, and even the Chief Minister. “Where was the government’s zero tolerance when Soumyashree was running from pillar to post for justice?” Chhuria asked, demanding a judicial probe into the incident.
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The leaders also raised concerns about the police’s failure to register an FIR based on the victim’s complaint and alleged that ruling party leaders pressured law enforcement to suppress the case. “Those who ignored Soumyashree’s complaints are as guilty as the perpetrators,” Chhuria stated, urging Sarangi to demand accountability instead of deflecting blame.
Dr. Rajashree Mallick accused Sarangi of using the tragedy to attack former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and the BJD government to cover up her own party’s failures. “The BJD government, under Naveen Patnaik, was a national leader in ensuring women’s dignity and justice,” Mallick said, challenging Sarangi’s contributions as an MP. “Apart from one foot overbridge, what has she achieved for Bhubaneswar?” she added.
The BJD called for a judicial investigation to uncover the truth and deliver justice to Soumyashree’s family, urging Sarangi to focus on the victim’s plight rather than political point-scoring.
