Bhubaneswar, Sept. 23 (UDN): Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leaders and workers staged a protest at Lower PMG in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday over alleged errors in school textbooks, demanding that School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond step down, citing what the party described as administrative responsibility for the lapses.
The demonstration, organised by the Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BYJD) and Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD), continued despite rainfall in the capital city. Senior BJD leaders and legislators also joined the protest.
Tension was reported when demonstrators attempted to march towards the Odisha Legislative Assembly and were stopped by police personnel deployed at the site. A confrontation followed as security personnel prevented the protesters from moving ahead.
Police subsequently detained several protesters to restore order.
The BJD’s youth and student wings have been protesting at Lower PMG for the past two days, seeking accountability over the textbook-related issue.
BJD Seeks Accountability
Deputy Leader of Opposition Prasanna Acharya said the party was seeking the minister’s resignation on moral grounds, alleging that the textbook errors reflected a failure in the administration.
The BJD leader said the agitation would continue until the government takes responsibility and addresses the concerns raised by students and youth.
Senior BJD leader and MLA Niranjan Pujari also joined the party’s youth and student leaders in raising the issue. He said education was central to the state’s development and stated that the party would continue to raise the matter both inside the Assembly and through public demonstrations.
Meanwhile, BJD legislators have been raising the textbook issue inside the Odisha Assembly during the ongoing Monsoon Session, while the party’s youth and student wings have continued their street protests.
The government’s response to the Opposition’s allegations and the specific steps being taken to address the reported textbook errors remain key aspects of the ongoing issue.