Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], July 13 (ANI): Odisha Congress president Bhakta Charan Das on Sunday hit out at the BJP government over the issue of the Balasore self-immolation case and demanded the resignation of the state education minister.

'The suicide attempt took place a month after speaking to the MP. What were the CMO and the education minister doing for a month? Is this how justice is served? The student knocked on all the doors. The day she attempted suicide, she had left the principal's room. What he did to her is still in the dark. What prompted her to commit immediate suicide?... The principal must have disappointed her, leaving her with no other option. The BJP is in the government, and its student wing is not able to get justice for itself... How is the CMO working?... An ABVP student had to attempt suicide. How will she encourage others to join their party?... We demand that the Education Minister must resign or the CM must sack him...' Bhakta Charan Das told ANI.

He further added, 'Why did this happen? Who was that girl? What was her complaint, and why did she attempt suicide? She filed an FIR in June. She tagged the Education Minister and the CMO on Facebook. She was from ABVP, and she also met Pratap Sarangi, Balasore MP... Pratap Sarangi compared the accused lecturer with Chalisa, which is used for Lord Hanuman. Someone who misbehaves with women cannot be connected with the Chalisa. Pratap Sarangi calls himself a Hindu; he should have managed his words.'

The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) on Sunday formed an eight-member fact-finding committee to investigate the alleged self-immolation attempt by a female college student here in Balasore.

The eight-member fact-finding committee will be headed by state women's wing president Meenakshi Bahinipati to inquire into the self-immolation attempt by a student of Fakir Mohan College in Balasore.

The student is currently undergoing treatment at AIIMS Bhubaneswar. Congress MLA Sofia Firdous has been named in the panel.In a letter, the Odisha Congress said the committee will visit Balasore and inspect the incident site and submit a report to the Pradesh Congress Office. (ANI)