During the tenure of J.B. Patnaik as the Chief Minister of Odisha, he served three terms as the state’s Chief Minister. His first two terms lasted from 1980 to 1989, and his third term was from 1995 to 1999. Later, J.B. Patnaik also served as the Governor of Assam.
An old photograph of Dharmendra Pradhan taken in 1997.Dharmendra Pradhan.

In 1997, during J.B. Patnaik’s tenure as Chief Minister, Odisha witnessed a controversy over the alleged leak of examination question papers. At that time, Dharmendra Pradhan, who was associated with the ABVP (Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad), led a major protest against the Odisha government and the J.B. Patnaik administration.J.B. Patnaik.

It was during this agitation that Dharmendra Pradhan first came into the public spotlight. Ironically, the same person who once took to the streets protesting against an examination paper leak is now facing calls to resign over the alleged NEET question paper leak. Students who are currently protesting have drawn comparisons between the two incidents.Dharmendra Pradhan.

At present, many protesting students are demanding not only Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation but also his arrest. Furthermore, some claim that, just as political change took place in Tamil Nadu, young people across India are extending support to the Cockroach Janata Party and hope to see a similar political transformation across the country.
J.B. Patnaik and former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.J.B. Patnaik.

When J.B. Patnaik was Chief Minister in 1997, a massive protest erupted over the alleged examination paper leak. Dharmendra Pradhan, then an ABVP leader, reportedly mobilized around 1500 students and led a march towards the Chief Minister’s residence. During the police lathi-charge, he sustained serious injuries.

His role and courage during that protest reportedly drew the attention of the BJP, which later inducted him into the party and helped shape his political career. The protest is said to have played a significant role in his rise in politics.Dharmendra Pradhan.

Do you know who he was?
The very same Dharmendra Pradhan, against whom political parties, the public, and students have been demanding resignation over the alleged NEET examination paper leak, is the person referred to above. Many social media users have described this as an example of how dramatically times have changed.

Note:
The photograph attached was taken in 1997 after Dharmendra Pradhan was injured during the protest.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Many students protesting at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi have also questioned why Dharmendra Pradhan’s daughter, who is studying abroad, is not called back to India. They ask whether this implies that he himself does not believe that India provides quality education.