TV
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on Monday, launched a scathing attack on the Congress over the arrest of Udit Pradhan, president of the Student wing of Congress in the state, on rape charges, accusing the party of hypocrisy and selective outrage on women’s issues.
Addressing the media, BJP Yuva Morcha state president Abhilash Panda said the Congress, which frequently targets the BJP-led state government over incidents involving women, has now been exposed by the misconduct of its own leader.
“A leader of their own frontal organisation, the president of Student Congress, is behind bars in a rape case. This exposes the moral fabric of the Congress,” Panda said.
The Congress, which recently led protests including an Odisha Bandh over women's safety following the Balasore college self-immolation case, has come under fire for its silence on the criminal charges against its own leader.
BJP leaders also questioned why the party had failed to respond when earlier crimes against women, such as the Chhabirani murder and Anjana gang rape case, occurred during the UPA regime.
NSUI Acts, Suspends Udit Pradhan
Meanwhile, the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) on Monday suspended Udit Pradhan pending an inquiry. NSUI national president Varun Chaudhary confirmed the action.
Pradhan was arrested by Mancheswar Police on Sunday night following a rape complaint filed by a young woman. According to police, the incident took place on March 18 when the survivor, while out with friends near Master Canteen Square, was joined by Pradhan, whom she didn’t know personally, and another individual. They later went to a nearby hotel where she was offered drinks. Though she refused alcohol, she accepted a soft drink and soon began feeling dizzy.
As she attempted to leave, her friends allegedly convinced her to stay. The woman said she lost consciousness and later woke up to find Pradhan sleeping beside her, suspecting sexual assault due to physical pain and injuries.
When confronted, Pradhan allegedly threatened and abused her, demanding silence. The survivor said she remained quiet out of fear but found courage to come forward following recent high-profile crimes against women in the state.
Police Begin Forensic Probe and Interrogation
A case has been registered under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). ACP Biswaranjan Senapati informed that CCTV footage from the hotel is being examined, and all individuals present, including friends of the survivor, will be interrogated, said a senior police official, adding that more arrests will be made if the involvement of others is established.
