Rajya Sabha BJD member Sasmit Patra has demanded setting up of a Kalinga Regiment.
He said in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, “There has been a longstanding demand for raising a Kalinga Regiment in the Indian Army from the State of Odisha.
Earlier, late Biju Patnaik had demanded for it. In 2015, it was again placed before the Centre which was not materialised so far.”
A Kalinga Regiment should be raised considering Odisha’s contribution to the nation’s defence establishments in its territory like the one in the Abdul Kalam Island, he said.
“Odisha is known as the land of gallantry and valour. And this goes back into the history we talk about the Kalinga War or we talk about the Paika Rebellion. Similarly in terms of defence and contribution to defence by the State, Odisha through its Integrated Test Range Centre of DRDO at the Abdul Kalam Island has been home to the major defence contribution in terms of missile technology.
Whether Akash, Agni, Astra, BrahMos, Nirbhay, Prithvi, Shaurya, Odisha has been contributing substantially to the defence of this nation. Apart from that, the INS Chilka, which is the training facility for the Navy, as well as the
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) have contributed immensely to this nation,” Patra said.