TNI Bureau: Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President Bhakta Charan Das said Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan should have resigned over repeated examination-related irregularities, alleging that his failure to do so was a mistake and that the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were also wrong in continuing to protect him. He said the Congress would continue its peaceful agitation until Pradhan resigns.

Addressing a press conference organised by the Sambalpur District Congress Committee and State NSUI at Grand Shiva Convention Hall in Sambalpur, Das alleged that the Union Education Ministry had repeatedly failed to prevent question paper leak incidents and other examination irregularities during Pradhan’s tenure. He warned that if the government does not formulate a permanent policy to stop such incidents, the NSUI and Congress would intensify their protest.

Bhakta Das said the student-youth convention scheduled for June 10 in Sambalpur would be a historic gathering. He stated that Sambalpur has a rich legacy of student movements and struggles and expressed confidence that the event would help create a new generation of student leaders. He also said the visit of Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar would help reorganise the student community and inspire students to take part in democratic and issue-based movements.

The PCC President alleged that the BJP government had weakened the education system and claimed that decisions regarding appointments of Vice-Chancellors in universities were increasingly influenced by the RSS. He maintained that the Congress rally would be completely peaceful and asserted that the party has no place for violence in its movements. He warned that Congress would oppose any attempt to create disturbances during the programme.

Das further alleged that police personnel were being used by ruling party leaders and workers for political and personal purposes and said such practices must be stopped. He also claimed that the BJP government was earning huge amounts during the paddy procurement season.

Former MLA Santosh Singh Saluja, who attended the press conference, supported the demand for Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation and said Congress would continue to oppose changes in the education policy.

Rajgangpur MLA C.S. Raazen Ekka shared details about the venue of the June 10 convention and the route of Kanhaiya Kumar’s procession. He said Congress was fighting for the future of students and youth and was playing the role of a responsible opposition to safeguard the country’s future.

PCC Social Media Cell Chairman Biswajit Mohanty criticised the government over rising prices of essential commodities, repeated hikes in petrol and diesel prices, and unemployment. He questioned the status of the government’s promise to recruit 960 police sub-inspectors and alleged that the state government had remained silent over the reported retrenchment of thousands of power sector employees by Tata Power.

NSUI leader and PCC spokesperson Bibhuti Mahapatra appealed to people from across western Odisha to participate in the June 10 convention. He said the movement was aimed at protecting the future of students and opposing the government’s education policies while demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The press conference was conducted by PCC media chairman Aravind Das and was attended by Sambalpur District Congress Committee President Amit Guru, District Mahila Congress President Bijayalaxmi Behera and other party leaders.