Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday did not unveil the bronze statue of Veer Surendra Sai at Khinda Square in Sambalpur district due to a dispute over its inauguration between political parties.Instead of unveiling it, Patnaik only garlanded the statue, which had been inaugurated by a descendant of the great freedom fighter on Wednesday.
Notably on Wednesday hours after the bronze statue of the freedom fighter was inaugurated by his descendant lal Phakir Sai near his birthplace at Khinda Aquare, the garlands were taken off and the statue was covered by local Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leaders who wanted it to be inaugurated by party supremo Naveen Patnaik.
It may be noted that the authorities of Bhusan Steel, which is very close to the freedom fighter’s birthplace Khinda, had agreed to get the statue built at their expense in 2009. The statue, built at a cost of Rs 25 lakh, was set up at Khinda Square in January 2010.On the occasion, the Chief Minister addressing a gathering at Khinda announced that the Gandadhr Meher (Autonomous) College would be upgraded to a Unitary University.
College Students’ Union president Milan Hota said the students of the region would be benefitted after the college is upgraded to a Unitary University.