The Utkal Sammilani has demanded that Bharat Ratna be conferred on freedom fighter and former Chief Minister late Biju Patnaik.
Sammilani branch head Dillip Dashsharma said Bijubabu is no less than the persons being selected for the award nowadays. “The man, who had achieved Russia’s highest award Order of lenin and Indonesia’s highest citizenship award Bhumiputra, is highly eligible for the Bharat Ratna tag. But the jury who select persons for the award do not consider,” lamented Dashsharma.
Besides, he is of the view that cricketers should not be given Bharat Ratna and they should not be appointed as Rajya Sabha members at an early age. Their experience should be used for development of sports in the country, Dassharma said.