Bhubaneswar: BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, joined by 11 other Lok Sabha members from Odisha, on Wednesday hit back at BJD president Naveen Patnaik for demanding Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, alleging that the former chief minister had “stooped to a new low” by siding with the “Cockroach Janata Party”.Naveen, who raised the demand in New Delhi on Tuesday, reiterated his demand in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday and said the BJD would intensify its agitation in Odisha.Condemning Naveen’s remarks, Mahtab said the statement was not based on facts. “He thinks public memory is short. During his tenure as chief minister, a series of question paper leaks took place. From 2015 to 2024, there were different types of irregularities in recruitment and competitive examinations. He should not take the people of Odisha so lightly,” he said.Mahtab, a founding member of the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD who switched to the BJP in 2024, alleged that the “Cockroach Janata Party” was anti-national. “In a successful democratic country, everyone has the right to express an opinion. But one cannot cross security barricades, enter prohibited areas and try to breach the Parliament complex,” he said referring to the Tuesday protests in Delhi.Referring to the recent examination controversy, Mahtab said the question paper leak issue was addressed and the re-NEET examination was conducted in a time-bound manner, with results published promptly. “This is praiseworthy. Similar leaks had also taken place during the UPA govt. Naveen’s statement is in no way acceptable. He must refrain from making such remarks,” the seven-time Cuttack MP said.In New Delhi on Tuesday, Naveen demanded Dharmendra‘s resignation while condemning police action against protesters. On his return to Bhubaneswar on Wednesday, he reiterated the demand. “There is agitation across the country over what has happened, which has shocked the entire nation. We will have agitations in Odisha as well. I was asked if the Union education minister should resign. I think he should resign,” Naveen said.He also criticised the police action against students and opposition leaders. “Everyone is deeply shocked by the violence against young students. The leader of the opposition in Parliament and many other senior politicians were also treated very roughly by the police. This is shocking,” he said.A BJD insider said the NEET row could snowball into a major political issue in the state, with any setback to Dharmendra likely to have wider ramifications for Odisha politics.
