Odisha Youth Congress holds torch rally over exam leaks, textbook errors

The Story in Brief

Odisha Youth Congress president Ranjit Patra led a torch rally in Bhubaneswar on Sunday, demanding the resignation of School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond over alleged question paper leaks and errors in government textbooks. Thousands of workers marched from Congress Bhavan to Shishu Bhavan Square, raising slogans against the state government. Indian Youth Congress national president Uday Bhanu Chib and state Congress chief Bhakta Charan Das addressed the gathering. Das claimed about 2,000 mistakes have been found in school textbooks, while senior leader Manas Choudhury alleged over 3,000 errors.

Congress leaders accused the BJP government of neglecting Odisha’s history and culture in textbooks. The protest follows a call by Rahul Gandhi in Prayagraj. Chib said the action highlights anti-student policies of both Central and state governments. He also expressed solidarity with student movements in Jharkhand, where JPSC-JSSC aspirants have been protesting for 16 days against alleged recruitment irregularities. The opposition has intensified demands for accountability in Odisha’s education sector.