Odisha Opposition Demands Minister Gond Resign Over Textbook Errors

Opposition parties in Odisha, including the Biju Janata Dal and Congress, are demanding the resignation of School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond following the discovery of 1,678 errors in SCERT textbooks for classes 1 to 8. The demands intensified after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on Saturday amid youth-led protests over a NEET question paper leak.

In response to the errors, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi ordered an investigation by the Crime Branch of Odisha Police. The probe led to the arrest of former SCERT director Manoj Kumar Padhy for suspected criminal conspiracy and negligence, which allegedly caused a state loss of Rs 175 crore. Three assistant directors were also suspended.

Biju Janata Dal members organized save education rallies across 16 districts, while Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhakta Charan Das threatened a statewide bandh and protests at Gond's residence if the minister is not removed within seven days. The BJP dismissed these demands as political opportunism, citing a lack of moral accountability during previous Congress and BJD administrations.