Bhubaneswar, July 27: Leader of the Opposition in the Odisha Assembly and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik on Monday demanded the resignation of School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond, holding him morally responsible for the large number of errors detected in newly published school textbooks.

Speaking to mediapersons, Patnaik said the minister should accept responsibility for the lapses and step down from his post. He also urged Gond to follow the example of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, claiming that accountability was essential in matters affecting students' education.

"School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond should resign. There have been numerous mistakes in the textbooks meant for students in our state. He should take moral responsibility and resign from the post. This has been the BJD's demand for the last two to three weeks," Patnaik said.

The demand comes amid an escalating controversy over errors found in textbooks for Classes I to VIII. According to reports, more than 1,600 mistakes have been identified across the newly printed books, triggering widespread criticism from Opposition parties, educationists, teachers and parents.

The alleged errors include mistakes in language, facts, spellings and content, raising concerns over the quality of the textbook preparation, review and publication process. The issue has sparked a political debate, with the Opposition accusing the government of negligence in the education sector.

The Odisha Government has already initiated an investigation into the matter, while the Crime Branch is probing the circumstances surrounding the textbook irregularities. As the controversy continues to intensify, the BJD has reiterated its demand for accountability, maintaining that those responsible for the lapses must face appropriate action to safeguard the interests of students.

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