The Punya Utkal has demanded that the State and the Central Governments take steps to form a force in the name of ‘Kalinga Regiment’ for the sake of respect of Odisha.
Punya Utkal chairman Manoranjan Mahapatra told a Press meet here on Sunday that effort should be made at all levels for formation of a Kalinga Regiment. Freedom fighters from Odisha like Buxi Jagabandhu, Madhusudan Das and others scarified their lives, but yet the State is being neglected at the national level, he said.
He also pointed out that as Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has mentioned earlier that the first freedom struggle had started from Odisha in the form of Paika Rebellion, he should take initiative for a Kalinga Regiment. Among others, journalist Sriram Das, J Adeni, Bhikari Charan Mahapatra, Brundaban Jena and Tusharkant Jena were present.