![\"Mahtab](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-132558184,imgsize-399361,width-400,height-225,resizemode-75\/bhartruhari-mahtab-jpeg.jpg\" "\\"Bhartruhari")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nBhubaneswar: <\/span>BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, joined by 11 other Lok Sabha members from Odisha<\/a>, on Wednesday hit back at BJD president Naveen Patnaik<\/a> for demanding Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan<\/a>\u2019s resignation, alleging that the former chief minister had \u201cstooped to a new low\u201d by siding with the \u201cCockroach Janata Party\u201d.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\u2019s remarks, Mahtab said the statement was not based on facts. \u201cHe 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,\u201d he said.Mahtab, a founding member of the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD who switched to the BJP in 2024, alleged that the \u201cCockroach Janata Party\u201d was anti-national. \u201cIn 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,\u201d 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. \u201cThis is praiseworthy. Similar leaks had also taken place during the UPA govt. Naveen\u2019s statement is in no way acceptable. He must refrain from making such remarks,\u201d the seven-time Cuttack MP said.In New Delhi on Tuesday, Naveen demanded Dharmendra\u2018s resignation while condemning police action against protesters. On his return to Bhubaneswar on Wednesday, he reiterated the demand. \u201cThere 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,\u201d Naveen said.He also criticised the police action against students and opposition leaders. \u201cEveryone 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,\u201d 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.<\/div>\n