The Odia Bhasha Sangram Samiti, an organisation fighting for the cause of the Odia language, on Wednesday resorted to fast-unto-death agitation for an indefinite period demanding implementation of the Odisha Official language Act, 1954 immediately.Three activists of the Samiti, Gajanana Mishra, Madhumita Samal and Silu Parida, went on hunger strike. Expressing solidarity to the agitation, political parties like the Samajwadi Party, the Kalinga Sena and the BJP and people from different walks of life have participated in the dharna at Mahatma Gandhi Marg in front of the Assembly.
Noted freedom fighter Bhabani Charan Patnaik, senior BJP leader Biswabhusan Harichandan, senior Congress leader Niranjan Patnaik, SP State president Rabi Behera and Kalinga Sena president Hemanta Rath joined the dharna and came down heavily on the State Government and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for their poor treatment to the Odia language.BJD MP Baisnab Charan Parida, who played a leading role in ensuring promotion of Odia language, also urged the CM to enforce the language Act soon.
“It is unfortunate that Odia is yet to get its due even after it has got the Classical language tag. Eighty long years after Odisha was made a separate State based on language and 60 years after Orissa Official language Act, 1954 was enacted, Odia is yet to be implemented in official communication,” said Bhabani Patnaik. Samiti convenor Sankarsan Parida said reluctance of Government to use Odia in private and Government institutes, courts, educational institutions, healthcare centres and public places has hurt every Odia.The Kalinga Sena also organsied a protest rally accusing the State Government of doing nothing for the regional language.