The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) has announced a statewide protest demanding the resignation of School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond over alleged errors in government school textbooks.
Speaking at a press conference in Bhubaneswar, AICC Odisha in-charge Lalji Desai described the mistakes as serious and said students should not suffer because of administrative negligence. He said Congress leaders and workers would hold demonstrations across the state to demand accountability and immediate action.
The party claimed that 1,678 errors had been found in school textbooks. Among the mistakes highlighted were a photograph of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly printed in place of the Odisha Assembly and an image of Hampi used instead of the Konark Temple.
Congress also raised concerns about the condition of the state’s education system. The party alleged that nearly 10,000 government schools have been closed and around 80,000 teaching posts remain vacant.
OPCC President Bhakta Charan Das warned that the agitation would intensify if the minister did not resign within seven days. He said the party could call for an Odisha Bandh if its demands were ignored.
The Congress has demanded immediate correction of textbook errors, recruitment of teachers and stronger measures to improve the state’s education system.