Congress-affiliated NSUI staged a protest in Bhubaneswar demanding the resignation of Odisha School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond over alleged errors in newly introduced school textbooks. Several activists were detained after attempting to gherao his residence. Amid claims of around 1,700 mistakes, the state government has formed a committee to investigate the controversy.

Bhubaneswar: Members of the Congress-affiliated NSUI held a demonstration in Bhubaneswar on Thursday, demanding the resignation of School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond over alleged errors in newly introduced school textbooks.

Carrying posters, banners and copies of the popular Odia alphabet primer 'Madhu Barnabodha', NSUI activists marched towards the minister's official residence and attempted to gherao it.

Tension briefly flared when police stopped the protesters from advancing towards the residence. A scuffle ensued, following which several NSUI activists were detained and taken away in police vehicles.

NSUI leader Yashir Nawaz claimed that around 1,700 errors had been identified in the books prepared for school students.