While the State Government has been delaying in giving the State Anthem tag to laxmikanta Mohapatra’s patriotic song Bande Utkal Janani since 2002, the Home and Culture Departments are now giving different statements regarding the issue, alleged Utkal Sammilani leader Dillip Dashsharma on Sunday.
He said that while the Culture Department has said it has recommended to the Home Department through a letter dated January 22, 2013 for according the State Anthem status to Bande Utkal Janani, the latter has taken the stand that it has not received any such recommendation. The Home Department further said that as per Article-162 of the Constitution, the State Government has no authority to give State Anthem status to any song. Notably, the then Culture Minister Maheswar Mohanty, after being criticised for making such a statement on December 15, 2012, had hastily recommended for the State Anthem status to Bande Utkal Janani after holding a meeting on December 17, 2012, Dashsharma pointed out.