BJD protests in Bhubaneswar over school textbook errors, seeks minister's resignation
Synopsis
BJD workers and leaders clashed with police at Lower PMG in Bhubaneswar as they marched toward the Odisha Assembly demanding School Minister Nityananda Gond's resignation over textbook printing errors. With MLAs disrupting the Monsoon Session simultaneously and around 40-50 people detained, the Opposition is running a coordinated two-front campaign that shows no signs of backing down.
Key Takeaways
BJD workers and leaders clashed with police at Lower PMG, Bhubaneswar on 23 September during a march toward the Odisha Assembly.
The protest demands the resignation of School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond over printing errors in state school textbooks.
Approximately 40 to 50 workers and leaders were detained to restore order.
The agitation was jointly organised by youth wing BYJD and students' wing BCJD , running for at least two consecutive days.
BJD MLAs have simultaneously been protesting inside the Odisha Assembly during the ongoing Monsoon Session .
Deputy Leader of Opposition Prasanna Acharya warned the agitation would continue until the minister resigns.
The Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Wednesday, 23 September mounted a large-scale protest at Lower PMG in Bhubaneswar, with workers and senior leaders clashing with security forces during a march toward the Odisha State Assembly. The demonstration was held to demand the resignation of School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond over printing errors discovered in school textbooks distributed across the state.
What Sparked the Protest
Printing blunders found in state school textbooks have become a flashpoint in Odisha's political discourse, with the BJD arguing that the errors jeopardise the academic futures of students across the state. The protest was jointly organised by the party's youth wing, Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BYJD), and its students' wing, Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD). Youth and student leaders had already been demonstrating at Lower PMG for two consecutive days before Wednesday's escalation.
Clashes and Detentions
When police attempted to halt the marchers from advancing toward the Odisha Assembly, scuffles broke out at Lower PMG. Officers subsequently detained approximately 40 to 50 workers and leaders to restore order. The protest took place despite heavy rainfall triggered by a deep depression affecting the region, with senior party legislators joining the march alongside youth cadres.
What the BJD Leaders Said
Deputy Leader of Opposition Prasanna Acharya addressed mediapersons at the site, saying, 'We are demanding the resignation of the concerned Minister to take moral responsibility. It is an utter failure on the part of the state government. They are jeopardising the future of lakhs of boys and girls of the state. It is unforgivable.' He added that the agitation would continue until the minister stepped down, pledging the party's full backing to students and youth protesters.
Senior BJD leader and party MLA Niranjan Pujari also endorsed the protest, stressing that education was critical to the state's overall development and expressing deep concern over the condition of the sector. 'We are agitating over this issue, and our youth and students are also agitating on the streets. We are going to support them,' Pujari said.
Inside the Assembly and on the Streets
The street demonstrations are running parallel to parliamentary pressure, with BJD MLAs staging protests inside the Odisha Assembly for the past two days during the ongoing Monsoon Session. This twin-track strategy — legislative disruption combined with street mobilisation — signals a concerted effort by the principal Opposition to keep the textbook controversy at the centre of public attention. Notably, this is at least the third consecutive day of coordinated action by the party on the issue.
What Comes Next
The BJD has made Minister Gond's resignation the sole condition for withdrawing the agitation. The state government has not publicly responded to the demands as of Wednesday evening. With the Monsoon Session still under way and street protests continuing, pressure on the ruling establishment is likely to intensify in the days ahead.
Point of View
But the BJD is clearly treating them as political capital. Running simultaneous protests in the streets and inside the Assembly is a disciplined Opposition playbook — one that keeps a story alive in both media cycles. What is missing so far is a clear statement from the state government on what went wrong, how many students are affected, and what remedial steps are under way. That silence is doing more damage than the errors themselves. For the ruling party, a belated acknowledgment with a concrete corrective plan would be far less costly than an ongoing spectacle that frames the government as indifferent to children's education.
NationPress
23 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the BJD protesting in Bhubaneswar?
The BJD is protesting over printing errors found in Odisha state school textbooks, demanding the resignation of School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond for what it calls a failure of moral responsibility. Workers and leaders clashed with police during a march toward the Odisha Assembly on 23 September.
Who is Nityananda Gond and why is his resignation being demanded?
Nityananda Gond is Odisha's School and Mass Education Minister. The BJD is holding him responsible for printing blunders in school textbooks distributed across the state, arguing that the errors jeopardise the futures of lakhs of students and that the minister must take moral accountability.
How many people were detained during the protest?
Police detained approximately 40 to 50 BJD workers and leaders at Lower PMG in Bhubaneswar on 23 September to bring the situation under control after clashes broke out during the march toward the State Assembly.
How long has the agitation been going on?
Youth and student wings of the BJD had been protesting at Lower PMG for at least two days before Wednesday's escalation. BJD MLAs have also been staging protests inside the Odisha Assembly simultaneously during the ongoing Monsoon Session.
What has the BJD said will end the protest?
According to Deputy Leader of Opposition Prasanna Acharya, the agitation will end only when Minister Nityananda Gond resigns. The party has said it will continue to back student and youth protesters until the state government takes moral responsibility for the textbook errors.
