Bhubaneswar, Sep 26: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday strongly reacted to the recently tabled Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report in the Odisha Legislative Assembly, calling it a "credible document of national importance."

In a post on X, Pradhan emphasized that the report exposes widespread corruption and administrative paralysis during the tenure of the previous BJD government in the state.

ସିଏଜି ରିପୋର୍ଟ ଭାରତର ଏକ ବିଶ୍ୱସନୀୟ ଦସ୍ତାବିଜ୍ । ଓଡ଼ିଶା ବିଧାନସଭାରେ ସଦ୍ୟ ଉପସ୍ଥାପିତ ସିଏଜି ରିପୋର୍ଟ, ପୂର୍ବ ସରକାରର ବ୍ୟାପକ ଦୁର୍ନୀତି ଓ ଘୋର ଅନିୟମିତତାକୁ ପଦାରେ ପକାଇଛି, ଯାହା ସେ ସମୟର ଅପାରଗତା ଓ ପ୍ରଶାସନିକ ସ୍ଥାଣୁତାର ଏକ ଜ୍ୱଳନ୍ତ ଉଦାହରଣ । ରିପୋର୍ଟରୁ ଏ କଥା ସ୍ପଷ୍ଟ ଯେ ଗତ ସରକାର ଅମଳରେ ଦୁର୍ନୀତି ଚରମ ସୀମାରେ…

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) September 26, 2025

Minister Pradhan’s Statement

Minister Pradhan stated, “The CAG report is a trustworthy document of India. The report presented in the Odisha Assembly has laid bare the extensive corruption and grave irregularities of the former government, which reflect its incompetence and administrative stagnation. It is evident from the report that corruption had reached its peak and infiltrated every layer of governance during the previous regime.”

Pradhan further added that essential sectors such as education, healthcare, drinking water supply, and tribal welfare witnessed rampant misuse of public funds, revealing the insensitivity of the former administration. “Funds meant for public welfare were looted under the guise of development. The systemic plunder and favoritism of the past government now stand exposed,” he asserted.

Also Read: CAG Suspects Rs 148.75 Cr ITDA Scam In Odisha During Previous BJD Govt

Latest CAG Findings

The CAG’s 2025 audit reports have uncovered alarming financial irregularities across multiple schemes during the previous BJD government:

Smart School Project Scam: Under the 5T initiative, thousands of crores were misused across six districts. The transformation programme turned into a hotbed of corruption.

Tribal Welfare Misappropriation: Engineers routed Rs148.75 crore through personal bank accounts, with transactions including ATM withdrawals and mobile recharges.

Water Supply Failures: Despite spending Rs2,808 crore under AMRUT and BASUDHA schemes, many projects remain incomplete. Water quality in several towns failed to meet safety standards.

BJP Government’s Assurance

Pradhan reaffirmed the commitment of the current “double-engine government” to rectify past misdeeds and serve the broader interests of Odisha’s citizens. “With the trust of the people behind us, our government is dedicated to correcting the anomalies of the past,” he said.