Bhubaneswar, July 26 (UDN): The Odisha Congress on Sunday stepped up its offensive against the BJP government, demanding the resignation of School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond and warning of a statewide agitation, including an Odisha Bandh, if the demand is not met within seven days.

Addressing a press conference here, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das alleged that the state government had failed to safeguard the interests of students and was morally responsible for lapses in the education sector.

Das said the party was issuing a seven-day ultimatum to the state government, asserting that the Education Minister should step down on moral grounds. Failing that, the Congress would intensify its agitation across Odisha, including a statewide shutdown.

“The government has seven days to act. If the minister does not resign, the Congress will launch a massive statewide protest, including an Odisha Bandh,” he said.

The Congress leader alleged that more than 2,200 errors had been detected in school textbooks, claiming the irregularities had adversely affected students and reflected serious administrative lapses in the education department.

He further announced that the party would extend full support to a proposed youth-led movement on education-related issues in the state. According to Das, the Congress would bear the expenses of the campaign and stand with students demanding reforms in the education system.

Claiming that public discontent against the BJP was growing, Das said the party’s campaign was not confined to seeking the resignation of ministers but aimed at securing comprehensive reforms in the education sector.

Responding to questions on whether the Congress would scale down its protest programmes following the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Das said the agitation would continue until all the party’s demands were addressed.

“The resignation of one minister is only one aspect of our movement. Candlelight marches, satyagraha programmes and district- and block-level protests will continue until the government responds to all our demands,” he said.

Congress leaders said the party would intensify its campaign across the state in the coming days, accusing the BJP government of neglecting students’ interests and mishandling education-related issues.