The Pujya Puja Prativa Parishad jointly with the Jaykiran Trust celebrated the 168th birth anniversary of Utkal Gaurav Madhusudan Das here at the lower PMG on Thursday.
Freedom fighter Dolagovinda Pradhan inaugurated the meeting. He urged the young generation to fight for conferment of Bharat Ratna to Madhubabu.
Former Minister Niranjan Patnaik, who was the chief guest, said, “For Madhubabu’s effort, we have a separate State of Odisha,” said Patnaik. He also demanded Bharat Ratna for Madhubabu.
AICC secretary Dr Rama Chandra Khuntia, who was the chief speaker, referred to the role of Madhubabu in the Utkal Sammilani.
Dr Bimalendu Mohanty, Aryakumar Jnanendra, Barendra Krushna Dhal and MlA Radharani Panda were present, among others.
Demanding Bharat Ratna for Madhubabu, a signature campaign was started. “We would collect signatures of all the Odias, even from those living outside of the State also,” said Parishad president Padmakar Guru. Around 500 signatures were already collected, he added.