Dharmendra Pradhan lashes out at Rahul Gandhi, accuses him of insulting Odisha’s culture, demands apology

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent remarks on Odisha and accused him of insulting the state’s culture and traditions during his visit. Pradhan said that instead of making fresh allegations, Gandhi should have apologised to the people of Odisha for the insults done to them in the past by the Congress party. He also accused the Congress MP of disrespecting the sacred ‘Khandua Pata’, a traditional garment offered in honour of Lord Jagannath. Speaking to reporters, Pradhan said Rahul Gandhi is not that knowledgeable. He speaks what his team writes for him. I would have liked it if he had apologised to the people of Odisha, because his party has insulted us so much. He had come to Odisha after such a long time, he should have really apologised to the Odia people. Instead, he gave another example of his arrogance. Whoever comes to Odisha is offered ‘Khandua Pata’ as a blessing of Mahaprabhu Jagannath. When Rahul Gandhi removed and kept aside the ‘Khandua Pata’, it shows that he has no knowledge and respect for our culture and traditions. This is just drama. On Friday, Rahul Gandhi had accused the Odisha government of looting the money of the poor and alleged that industrialist Gautam Adani was running the state. He also claimed that the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath was stopped for Adani and his family. Meanwhile, Dharmendra Pradhan attended the birth centenary celebrations of eminent writer Vidyutprabha Devi at RD University in Bhubaneswar. Odisha Higher Education Minister Suryavanshi Suraj and senior BJP leaders were also present at the event.