Bhubaneswar: BJD president and former CM Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday demanded the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET question paper leak. Speaking to the media in Delhi following a meeting of the BJD parliamentary party, Naveen described the issue as “serious and grave” and expressed concern over reports of students being injured during protests in Delhi on Monday.“This is not confined to Delhi alone; protests have erupted in several cities across the country. The matter is extremely serious,” Naveen said.The former CM said BJD MPs would raise the issue in Parliament. He also backed demands from several political parties seeking Dharmendra’s resignation. “My view is that many parties have already made that demand. Given the seriousness of the situation and the injuries suffered by students under these circumstances, I think he should resign,” Naveen said.Countering Naveen, Odisha law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said the former CM should first review his own track record, which he alleged was marred by corruption scandals and question paper leaks. “The prime minister has made the govt’s position very clear. The strictest action has been taken and the re-NEET exam was conducted. Naveen may have been compelled to make such a statement because of political considerations,” Harichandan said.Meanwhile, Odisha Congress president Bhakta Charan Das said students’ voices cannot be crushed by force. “Accountability for paper leaks and the crackdown on students is non-negotiable. As called for by Shri Rahul Gandhi Ji, this fight will continue until India’s education system is free from corruption. Dharmendra Pradhan must resign,” Das said.
