TNI Bureau: Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Bhakta Charan Das launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led state government over what he described as a major educational crisis, alleging that newly printed textbooks for Classes I to VIII contain as many as 1,678 errors and factual distortions.

Calling it a “mockery of the education system” and an insult to Odisha’s history, geography and culture, Das said the mistakes reflected gross administrative negligence. According to the correction list issued by the government, Class VIII textbooks alone contain 705 errors.

In a statement, the Congress leader highlighted several glaring mistakes, including the use of a photograph of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly in place of the Odisha Assembly, depicting the Niyamgiri Hills as part of Jharkhand, referring to Ganjam district as “Berhampur district”, and misspelling the names of eminent personalities such as classical vocalist Sunanda Patnaik and freedom fighter Pandit Nilakantha Das.

Accusing the BJP government of betraying its promise to protect “Odia Asmita”, Das said the errors went far beyond typographical mistakes and exposed “administrative bankruptcy”.

He also criticised the School and Mass Education Department for issuing a correction booklet instead of withdrawing the faulty textbooks altogether, alleging that the government was trying to cover up the issue. The PCC President asks Minister Nityananda Gond to take responsibility of the serious errors.

The Congress demanded immediate withdrawal of all error-ridden textbooks, a high-level inquiry into the role of SCERT officials who approved them, and accountability from the School and Mass Education Minister. The party said the minister should either resign or publicly apologise for jeopardising the future of lakhs of students.

Warning of a statewide agitation, the OPCC said Congress workers would launch protests across district and block headquarters if the government fails to print and redistribute corrected textbooks without delay.