Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Congress party have sought appointment with President Droupadi Murmu to raise the issue of women safety in Odisha in the wake of the self-immolation attempt by a girl student of FM Autonomous College in Balasore yesterday.

The two Opposition parties today sent formal requests in this regard to the President’s office. The President is scheduled to arrive in Odisha on a two-day visit on July 14 (Monday).

The Naveen Patnaik-led BJD sent a request to the President’s office through e-mail while Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das wrote a letter to the President seeking an audience during her visit to the state.

“The President of India will arrive in Odisha tomorrow. We have sent a formal request to the President’s office through e-mail seeking appointment with her. We hope that the President will grant us an appointment,” said former minister and BJD MLA Pramila Mallik.

The BJD alleged that the prevailing situation in Odisha has become unsafe for women, citing the alleged self-immolation attempt by the FM College student.

The girl, an Integrated B.Ed student, allegedly attempted self-immolation in front of the principal’s chamber due to continuous harassment by a teacher. The victim sustained 90 per cent burn injuries in the incident and she is now battling for life at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar.

“The FM College incident has exposed the prevailing unsafe condition for women in the state. At least 15 women are sexually assaulted in Odisha every day. We urge the president to give us just five minutes to discuss all these issues,” said the BJD in a statement.

In his letter, the OPCC president has blamed the authorities of FM College, police administration and the political leadership in the state for the FM College incident. Das sought time from the President to submit a memorandum in this regard.

“Myself along with four former presidents of OPCC—Niranjan Patnaik, Jaydev Jena, Prasad Harichandan and Sarat Pattanaik—and former Union Minister Srikanta Jena wish to meet you as per your convenience at Bhubaneswar and submit a memorandum,” said Das.