Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and former Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, saying he should step down in light of alleged examination irregularities and attacks on protesting students.
“A number of young students were violently attacked and injured,” Patnaik said, adding that BJD MPs visited hospitals to meet the injured students and provide assistance.
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His request comes against the backdrop of widespread protests organized by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) in New Delhi, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged leaks of examination papers.
The former Odisha chief minister described the situation as “extremely serious” and “extremely dangerous”, saying that the protests were not limited to Delhi but spread to many Indian cities and even to areas near Indian embassies in foreign capitals.
Patnaik made the request after meeting BJD Rajya Sabha MPs in New Delhi to discuss the controversy surrounding the alleged paper leaks and student protests across the country.
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“Like all these serious injuries to young people, I think under the circumstances he should resign,” Patnaik said.
Patnaik said he would return to Bhubaneswar on Wednesday for official matters, while BJP MPs would continue to pursue the issue in Parliament.
Patnaik had on Sunday called for a detailed discussion in Parliament on the exam paper leaks, saying the controversy was undermining public confidence in India’s education system.
The BJP leader, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the Odisha Parliament, said accountability must be determined for what he described as a “loss of confidence”.
“This serious issue, which affects millions of students across the country, must be taken up in Parliament as a top priority,” he said in a post on X.
Patnaik also urged the government to hold talks with students who are protesting against alleged irregularities in the national entrance examinations.
“A vibrant democracy advances through dialogue, not silence,” he said, adding that students should be given a platform to express their opinions.
He said the controversy had shaken confidence in the wider education system and called for concrete reforms to prevent a recurrence of paper leaks, flawed assessments and systemic failures.
