Bhubaneswar, 20 September (H.S.) : The youth and student wings of the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) have announced plans to gherao the Odisha Assembly during the upcoming Monsoon Session, demanding the resignation of School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond over alleged lapses in the state’s education system.

The Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BYJD) and Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD) said they would gherao the Assembly on September 22 and 23 if the S&ME Minister did not resign before the commencement of the Monsoon Session. The organisations also announced an indefinite dharna in front of the Assembly from September 22.

Addressing a press conference in Bhubaneswar on Sunday, BYJD president Chinmay Sahu alleged that serious errors had been found in textbooks prescribed for students from Classes I to VIII. He questioned why the government had not withdrawn the books despite examinations being scheduled within the next few days.

“How will students appear for examinations after studying from error-ridden textbooks?” Sahu asked.

Sahu also alleged irregularities in the publication of the new textbooks. He claimed that the tender for their publication had been awarded to an influential leader associated with the ruling BJP and alleged that the government had overlooked the errors to facilitate the release of funds.

He further alleged a ₹380-crore scam in the publication of the new textbooks and claimed that the S&ME Minister was also involved. These allegations were made by the BJD leader and were not independently established in the statement provided.

Sahu demanded the immediate withdrawal of the error-ridden textbooks, a high-level inquiry into the alleged irregularities and the dismissal of the S&ME Minister.

Referring to the Chief Minister’s remarks on the textbook errors, Sahu alleged that although the government had spoken of a conspiracy to tarnish its image, adequate action had not been taken against those responsible. He claimed that some lower-level officials had been arrested, while action against other alleged key persons was still awaited.

Meanwhile, BCJD president Ipsita Sahu alleged that the education system in Odisha had deteriorated under the BJP government. She alleged that the government had published error-ridden textbooks under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and accused it of failing to acknowledge the issue.

The BJD’s youth and student organisations said their proposed agitation was aimed at pressing the government to withdraw the textbooks, investigate the alleged irregularities and take responsibility for the reported errors.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda