Wed Jul 16 07:41:38 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the provided text, followed by a news article rewrite:

**Summary:**

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke with the father of a college student in Odisha who died after setting herself on fire due to alleged inaction regarding a sexual harassment complaint against a professor. Gandhi assured the family of his and the Congress party’s support. The Congress party has called for an Odisha bandh (strike) demanding a judicial inquiry into the incident.

**News Article:**

**Congress Promises Support to Family of Odisha Student Who Died After Self-Immolation**

**Bhubaneswar, Odisha – July 16, 2025** – Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has offered his condolences and support to the family of a second-year B.Ed student from Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore, Odisha, who died on Monday night at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar. The student had set herself on fire on the college campus Saturday, alleging that no action was taken against a professor she accused of sexual harassment.

In a statement posted on X, Mr. Gandhi said he spoke with the father of the victim and expressed his solidarity. “Spoke with the father of the brave daughter who lost her life in the fight for justice in Balasore, Odisha. In his voice, I felt his daughter’s pain, dreams, and struggle, assured him that the Congress and I stand with them at every step,” he wrote. “What happened is not only inhuman and shameful but a wound to the entire society. We will ensure in every way that the victim’s family receives full justice.”

The Congress party is escalating its response to the tragedy. They have called for an Odisha bandh (general strike) on July 17th, demanding a judicial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the student’s death and the allegations of sexual harassment. State Congress president Bhakta Charan Das met with the victim’s family on Tuesday. All India Mahila Congress president Alka Lamba has also arrived in Odisha to meet with the family and demonstrate the party’s commitment to seeking justice. The case has sparked outrage and renewed calls for stricter measures to address sexual harassment on college campuses.

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