Pradhan Accuses Rahul Gandhi of Insulting Odisha: Calls for Apology

Dharmendra Pradhan, the Union Education Minister, has voiced his criticism of Rahul Gandhi’s recent visit to Odisha. He stated that Gandhi’s remarks were disrespectful to the state’s culture and traditions. Pradhan argued that Gandhi should have apologized to the people of Odisha for the historical actions of the Congress party. He also pointed out Gandhi’s perceived lack of respect for the ‘khandua pata,’ a traditional offering. Pradhan stated, “Rahul Gandhi is not so knowledgeable… He removed and kept the ‘khandua pata’ aside, it shows that he does not have an iota of knowledge and respect for our culture and traditions. These are just theatrics.” Furthermore, Pradhan reacted to Gandhi’s allegations against the Odisha government and Gautam Adani and the claims regarding the Rath Yatra. Meanwhile, Pradhan attended the birth centenary celebration of the writer Bidyutprabha Devi, appreciating the efforts of the Odisha Sahitya Akademi and the Odia community. He encouraged the promotion of the Odia language using contemporary technologies, including AI.