New Delhi: A day after clashes between student protesters and Delhi Police during the “Sansad Chalo” (March to Parliament) rally over alleged NEET-UG paper leaks and irregularities in the education system, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Speaking to reporters after a BJD parliamentary party meeting in the national capital, Patnaik described the situation as “very serious.”

“A number of young students have been violently attacked and injured. Our MPs have visited hospitals to meet the injured students. I have asked them to do whatever they can to support these young people, and they are doing so,” he said.

“In view of these circumstances, the Union Education Minister should resign,” Patnaik added.
Patnaik, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Legislative Assembly, is scheduled to return to Bhubaneswar from New Delhi on Wednesday.

The clashes took place during a protest march organised by a group named the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), with support from climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, against alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination and paper leak controversy.