Youth’s Future and Nation Building More Important Than Position
Speaking in the university auditorium, Dharmendra Pradhan said that the country’s young generation is like our own children. Every year, approximately 20 million children are born in India, and in the last decade, more than 200 million youth have joined the mainstream of the nation.
All these young people have their own unique aspirations, and this generation will fulfill the dream of making India a “Vishwa Guru.” He said that for him, ministerial positions have never been a means of personal prestige.
He spoke openly about the allegations
During his address, Dharmendra Pradhan also strongly countered the personal allegations leveled by Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President and former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. He objected to Patnaik’s description of him as an “embarrassment” to the state and a “bad person,” addressing the public directly. Pradhan asked whether any of his political actions had brought shame to the people of Odisha. He became emotional and said that while he may not have achieved any significant achievements for the state, he had never done anything that would tarnish Odisha’s reputation.
An example of political decorum
An interesting twist occurred during the event when BJD MLA and Deputy Leader of the Odisha Legislative Assembly, Prasanna Acharya, was also present on the stage. Referring to the background of the protests, Pradhan said that he had personally consulted Prasanna Babu before coming to the university. He only participated in the program when the BJD leader assured him of full respect and security. Pradhan said that it was only with the blessings of Lord Jagannath and Mother Samaleswari that he had the opportunity to serve the country as a Union Minister 12 years ago. He sent a message to his opponents, saying that as a farmer’s son, he would never step back from the path of public service. He directly addressed the public, objecting to Patnaik calling him an “embarrassment” to the state and a “bad person.”