Bhubaneswar/New Delhi, July 22 (UDN): Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has called for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, citing the recent incidents of violence involving students in the national capital.

Biju Janata Dal President on the Protest by Students

Speaking on the student protest on NEET Paper Leak, Biju Janata Dal President Shri @Naveen_Odisha has expressed his support for the widespread demand of the resignation of Union Education Minister.

He said that the situation… pic.twitter.com/mTv5i3yHmV

— Biju Janata Dal (@bjd_odisha) July 21, 2026

Speaking after meeting BJD Members of Parliament during his visit to New Delhi, Patnaik described the situation as “serious and grave” and expressed concern over reports of students being injured during the unrest.

He said the party’s MPs had visited the injured students in hospital to assess their condition and extend support. According to Patnaik, the delegation also interacted with the students to understand their concerns and explore ways to assist them.

The BJD chief said the issue had gone beyond Delhi, with protests and demonstrations being witnessed in several parts of the country as well as outside India. He noted that the developments had attracted widespread attention, including demonstrations near Indian diplomatic missions in some foreign capitals.

Referring to demands from several political parties for accountability, Patnaik said the Union Education Minister should accept moral responsibility for the situation and step down from office.

“The violence against young students is deeply disturbing. Given the seriousness of the developments and the injuries suffered by students, I believe the Education Minister should resign,” he said.

The demand adds to the political debate surrounding the recent student unrest, with opposition parties questioning the Centre’s handling of the issue. There was no immediate response from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Patnaik’s remarks.