Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has strongly criticized Rahul Gandhi for his remarks and actions during his visit to Odisha. Pradhan accused Gandhi of insulting the state’s culture and traditions. He suggested that Gandhi should have apologized to the people of Odisha for the past actions of the Congress party. Pradhan specifically criticized Gandhi’s handling of the ‘khandua pata,’ a traditional cloth, as disrespectful. Pradhan also commented on Gandhi’s accusations against the Odisha government, Gautam Adani, and the Rath Yatra. In a separate event, Pradhan attended the birth centenary celebration of writer Bidyutprabha Devi, where he acknowledged the contributions of the Odisha Sahitya Akademi and the Odia community. He also emphasized the importance of using modern technology to promote and enrich the Odia language.
