Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday reiterated his demanded for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, slamming the central government over NEET-UG paper leak and police action against protesting students and opposition leaders in New Delhi.
Expressing distress over the countrywide unrest, Naveen stated: “There is an agitation all over the country about what has happened, which has shocked the entire nation. We will have agitations in Odisha as well.”
When asked whether Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan should step down over the handling of the entrance tests, the former CM endorsed the demand: “I was asked if the Minister of Education should resign; since his resignation has been asked for after what has been done regarding all these exams, I think that he should resign.”
Naveen further condemned the handling of student protests and opposition demonstrations in the national capital. “Everyone is deeply shocked by the violence of the police on young students. The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and many other senior politicians were also treated very roughly by the police. This is shocking,” he told reporters.
On Tuesday, the BJD chief held a meeting with party MPs, who had also visited injured students in hospital, during his visit to the national capital. He described the developments as a matter of national concern, with the protests having spread beyond Delhi to several cities across the country and had even reached Indian diplomatic missions abroad.
Reminiscent of British Rule, Says Arun Sahoo
Addressing a presser, senior BJD leader and MLA Arun Sahoo also launched a blistering attack on the BJP government on Wednesday, strongly condemning the alleged police action on students protesting in the national capital over exam irregularities.
Addressing reporters, the former Odisha minister asserted that peaceful protest is a fundamental right guaranteed in a democratic society. He accused the ruling BJP of displaying extreme arrogance by using force against students instead of holding constructive dialogues. “Our nation operates on democratic principles, where every individual, student body, and political or non-political organisation has the constitutional right to stage peaceful demonstrations,” Sahoo said.
“When students took out a peaceful march in Delhi to draw attention to crucial issues, they were met with barbaric force. The government did not even show the basic courtesy of sitting down to talk with them.”
Drawing a sharp parallel, the BJD lawmaker remarked that the crackdown on peaceful student demonstrators was reminiscent of atrocities committed during the British rule, calling it unacceptable in a civilised, independent India.
The BJD leader insisted that ministers and officials responsible for the ongoing lapses in the education system must be held accountable, calling for cabinet-level resignations if necessary. He urged the government to approach the students’ grievances with empathy and sincerity rather than treating peaceful marches as law-and-order threats.
Sahoo stated that the party remains committed to zero tolerance against corruption and procedural irregularities in education. “BJD will continue to stand firmly with the students and relentlessly fight in democratic forums until comprehensive reforms are introduced into the education system and those guilty are strictly punished,” he added.
Reflect On Your Own Track Record: BJP MP
Reacting sharply to demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister, BJP MP Balabhadra Majhi slammed the BJD supremo, urging him to reflect on his own government’s track record, Majhi asserted that the people of Odisha had bestowed immense trust in Patnaik by giving him the opportunity to govern the state for nearly two and a half decades, but his administration failed to live up to public expectations.
“The people of Odisha gave Naveen Patnaik the opportunity to govern for a long time, but he did not work in line with their expectations. There was widespread corruption during his tenure. From the chit fund scam to recruitment and examination paper leaks, several such incidents took place,” Majhi said.
Countering Naveen’s stance on examination integrity, the BJP leader cited a chronological list of major examination paper leaks and scams that occurred during the previous BJD regime in Odisha. “There were paper leaks in the constable recruitment examination in 2015, the OTET examination in 2016, the matriculation examinations in 2018 and 2019, the OTET examination in 2022, and the Odisha Staff Selection Commission (OSSC) examination in 2023…”
He further stated that there have been several instances of paper leaks during the Congress era and no minister had resigned then.
Congress To Hold ‘Chaatron Ki Goonj’ Rallies
The Congress organised “Chaatron Ki Goonj” (Echoes of Students) programme in Bhubaneswar, to highlight the NEET question paper leak controversy. The event discussed Rahul Gandhi’s vision behind the movement and explained how youth and students can join the initiative.
Addressing the gathering, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee President Bhakta Charan Das stated that the education system is currently in disarray. He emphasized that repeated paper leaks have pushed the future of students and youth into darkness, which is why party leader Rahul Gandhi is fighting relentlessly day and night. He added that similar “Chaatron Ki Goonj” rallies will be held across various parts of the state in the coming days, signaling the beginning of a major student revolution in the country.
Following a dharna led by Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra outside the Prime Minister’s residence, Das had also staged a protest at Lok Bhavan on Tuesday, demanding Dharmendra’s resignation, withdrawal of FIR against agitating students in Delhi and a detailed discussion on examination lapses in Parliament. “The government is using the police as a shield to suppress the voice of the Congress, but this repressive policy will not stop us. Police will get tired by making arrests, but Congress will not be tired in its fight for justice,” Das added.