Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his recent remarks and actions during his visit to Odisha. Pradhan accused Gandhi of insulting the state’s culture and traditions. He stated that instead of making fresh accusations, Gandhi should have apologized to the people of Odisha for the perceived historical humiliation caused by the Congress party. Pradhan also expressed disapproval of Gandhi’s handling of the ‘khandua pata,’ a traditional cloth offered as a mark of respect to Lord Jagannath. Furthermore, Pradhan highlighted Gandhi’s alleged lack of knowledge and respect for Odia culture, citing the incident with the ‘khandua pata’ as an example. In his speech, Pradhan also addressed Gandhi’s accusations against the Odisha government and industrialist Gautam Adani, as well as the claims regarding the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra. Separately, Pradhan attended the birth centenary celebration of writer Bidyutprabha Devi, praising the Odisha Sahitya Akademi and the Odia community for organizing the event and emphasizing the importance of promoting the Odia language through modern technology.
