The Bhasha Suraksha Sammilani reiterated its demand of constituting a linguist Commission and making penal provision in implementation of the Odisha Official language Act while celebrating the Utkal Divas here on Saturday.
“Mere decoration of Government offices with colourful lights and holding of song and dance programmes will not liven up Odia language and culture. A linguist Commission with provisions of punishment for violators is a pre-requisite for implementation of the language act. The Government is betraying people by not constituting a commission,” said political leader and intellectuals.
Former Minister Bishwabhusan Harichand alleged that the language act is not being implemented due to lack of willingness of the State Government.
Former State Assembly Speaker Sarat Kar, noted historians Dr Pritish Acharya and Dr Nibedital Mohanty, senior journalist Rabi Das spoke on how Odia language was protected through struggles and Odisha formed on linguist basis.
Sammilani president Baishnab Parida called upon people to speak Odia in day to day life and make their children learn Odia.
Padmashree Prafulla Kar and his group sang all patriotic songs which had been sung in the first session of the Utkal Sammilani. Youth litterateurs Amitabh Khilar, Biswanath Behera and Sachin Nayak coordinated the programme.