In a powerful show of solidarity, eight Opposition parties in Odisha, led by the Congress, have announced that July 24 will be observed as ‘Remembrance Day’ to honour Soumyashree Bisi, the FM Autonomous College student who tragically died following a self-immolation attempt.
The move aims to spotlight the urgent need for women’s safety and justice in the state.
At a joint press conference, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President Bhakta Charan Das urged all educational institutions to observe two minutes of silence, while government and private offices were requested to observe one minute of silence on the day.
Das emphasised that the Women’s Congress and allied wings will commemorate the day not only for Soumyashree but also for other women and girls who have faced harassment or abduction. He announced the launch of a women’s grievance cell, supported by a dedicated app, to facilitate complaint registration and monitoring.
Congress in-charge Ajay Kumar Lallu revealed that the INDIA bloc meeting in Delhi on July 19 will raise the issue, with Rahul Gandhi expected to bring it up in Parliament. The party has demanded a judicial inquiry led by a sitting High Court judge, monitored by the judiciary itself.
Ramachandra Kadam, Congress Legislature Party leader, confirmed that the matter will be raised in the upcoming Odisha Assembly session. Meanwhile, CPI(M) leader Suresh Panigrahi demanded the resignation of the state government and rejected the Crime Branch probe, calling for a judicial investigation.
The announcement follows the statewide bandh on July 17, which was described as peaceful and historic. Former Union Minister Srikant Jena hailed it as “perhaps the first such successful shutdown in India’s history,” supported by students, youth, women, workers, traders, and the general public.
The Opposition reaffirmed its commitment to continue the agitation for women’s safety and justice, marking July 24 as a day of remembrance and resolve.
