Bhubaneswar, July 13 -- Congress leader and Barabati-Cuttack MLA Sofia Firdous has criticised the Odisha State government over its handling of the self-immolation bid by a woman student at the FM (Autonomous) College in Balasore following alleged harassment that went unaddressed.

"The state government has been completely deflecting the criticism and allegations that are being levied against it. Time and again, this innocent girl has been raising the complaint...The authorities have failed to give her protection. Unfortunately, she is also a member of the ABVP, and this clearly shows that when the people of the party, when the women of the party, are not safe, leaders are not able to protect them. What is the situation of women in the sta...