While the State Government has decided to adopt the national model of celebrating the Independence Day this year, there is no reason to oppose it, said Rajya Sabha BJD member Sasmit Patra at a Press conference here.
The national format of the Republic Day celebration is parade-based and Independence Day is ‘speech’-based, he said. “The President takes the salute from the armed forces in a parade on each Republic Day and the Prime Minister delivers a speech from the Red Fort on each Independence Day. Odisha has decided to adopt the national pattern from this year. Accordingly, the Chief Minister would deliver a speech as it is done in New Delhi by the Prime Minister,” said Patra.
Stating that in a democracy States always follow the national model, especially in the celebrations of Independence Day and Republic Day, the MP criticized BJP leader Prithviraj Harichandan for raising an allegation against the State’s decision. “The BJP and its leader Prithviraj Harichandan’s politics on sensitive matters such as the Independence Day celebrations is highly unfortunate. Instead of playing politics, BJP and Harichandan should support Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s call to incorporate the ‘Ahimsa’ concept of Mahatma Gandhi in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution,” said Patra.
He said the BJD has already launched a campaign to collect nearly one lakh signatures to include “Ahimsa” in the Preamble.
He said the State Government has also planned to hold a big-scale photo exhibition on the Idco Exhibition Ground on Mahatma Gandhi and Odisha’s role in freedom struggle as part of the celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Gandhi this year.
“It is a matter of happiness that Independence Day celebration and Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary celebration and Odisha’s role in the freedom struggle are organised at the same venue,” asserted Patra.