Odisha State president of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), Udit Pradhan, has been arrested on charges of rape of a 19-year-old engineering student. The arrest has created political waves in the state as the Congress is embarrassed, but at the same time targeting the ruling BJP over increasing crimes against women.
As per the complaint lodged by the survivor, the attack occurred on March 18. She added that she had met two of her friends at Master Canteen Chowk in Bhubaneswar, where they were sitting in a car and talking. Another man approached them and introduced himself as Udit Pradhan.
“He sat beside me and touched me indecently.”
The student, in her complaint, reported, “He sat beside me and touched me indecently. They took me to a hotel, booked a room, and began drinking. I do not drink, so I declined. Udit Pradhan provided me with a glass of a cold beverage. When I consumed it, I began feeling giddy and requested that they drop me home. I then fainted.”
She further stated, “When I came to, I saw Udit Pradhan beside me. I was hurting and sensed that something untoward had occurred to me.”
The police have lodged a case on her complaint and have taken Udit Pradhan into custody. The investigation is in progress, and officials have not dismissed the possibility of further arrests.
Congress Under Fire During Anti-BJP Campaign for Safety of Women
The arrest takes place at a time when the Congress party has been strongly criticizing the BJP state government in Odisha for a hike in crimes against women. The issue became politically charged following the alleged death by self-immolation of a college student in Odisha protesting sexual harassment by a teacher.
In response to the tragedy, the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition attacked the BJP viciously, saying, “The killing of a daughter who was fighting for justice in Odisha is nothing but a murder by the system of the BJP. That courageous student dared to raise her voice against sexual harassment, but instead of serving justice, she was threatened, tortured, and subjected to constant humiliation.”
“Those who were supposed to protect her kept breaking her. As always, the BJP’s system continued to shield the accused and forced an innocent daughter to set herself on fire,” he accused in an X post.
BJP Likely to Hit Back
With the students’ wing president arrested over a rape charge, the Congress is in trouble. The BJP will be looking to take advantage of this and confront Congress with its charge that the state government is soft on women’s safety.
Political analysts are of the opinion that the incident can further deepen the blame game between Odisha’s ruling political parties and add serious questions to the activities of youth leaders belonging to both factions.
