Leader of the Opposition (LoP) and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in the wake of violence and alleged police assault on students during a protest rally over the NEET paper leak issue in New Delhi on July 20 organised by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP).
Speaking to media persons, Patnaik said: “I have also been asked whether the education minister should resign. Many demands from many parties have come for his resignation as all these serious injuries of young people have been taking place. So, under the circumstances, I think he should resign.”
Patnaik, who was in Delhi on Tuesday, met BJD MPs and held discussions on the emerging situation following the violent clash between protesters and police. He said the situation was grave, with many young students violently attacked and injured.
The BJD supremo also informed the media that the party’s MPs had visited RML Hospital to enquire about the health of students injured during the clash. He said the MPs offered all possible help to the injured persons.
“As I said, this is a very serious matter. As you can see, the situation is serious not only in Delhi but also in various cities across India, and even before our embassies in various international capitals. I have to return to Bhubaneswar tomorrow morning to attend to serious matters, but our MPs will take up the present matter very seriously,” he added.
Meanwhile, the BJD strongly condemned the alleged brutal police assault on students, claiming they were peacefully marching from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament in New Delhi on Monday. A BJD delegation, led by Leader of the BJD Parliamentary Party in the Rajya Sabha Manas Ranjan Mangaraj, visited the injured students undergoing treatment at Dr Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital in New Delhi and conveyed its deep sympathy to them.
The MPs interacted with the injured students, enquired about their health, and assured them that the BJD would always stand by them in their fight for justice. They also demanded that Parliament's proceedings be suspended to facilitate a special discussion on the issue.
Earlier, the BJD MPs strongly protested inside the House, demanding justice for the injured students and stringent action against those responsible. Owing to the uproar by Opposition parties, the House was subsequently adjourned.