Bhubaneswar, July 21 -- Reacting to the arrest of Congress student leader Udit Pradhan for allegedly raping a 19-year-old woman, Odisha Pradesh Congress President Bhakta Charan Das said that the party has suspended him with immediate effect and reaffirmed its "zero tolerance" policy towards crimes against women.

Speaking to ANI, Das said, "We have taken immediate action and suspended him with immediate effect, till the inquiry is over. Congress Party has been fighting against the atrocities against women. We will keep fighting against this until it is over in Odisha. We have zero tolerance against this."

Meanwhile, on Monday, Congress leader Sashmita Behera reiterated the party's stance of committment to stand with women and pledged to ...