In an embarrassment to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and his Government, BJD Rajya Sabha member Baishnab Charan Parida on Friday charged that mother tongue Odia is being neglected by the State Government itself.
Parida, also the president of Odisha Bhasa Sammilani, a body fighting for the protection and promotion of Odia language, attacked Patnaik for not implementing the Orissa Official language Act 1954.
“On Utkal Divas, we had great expectation that the Chief Minister would announce implementation of the language Act making Odia the State’s official
language. But he disappointed the people of the State,” said Parida.
Holding the Government solely responsible for the massive use of English starting from the State Secretariat, Collector offices to block and gram panchayat level, Parida said that there should be no further delay in making Odia the official language.
PCC president Prasad Harichandan was also critical of the Chief Minister in this regard, saying Odia language has been neglected for the last 16 years.
“It is during the UPA Government that Odia got the Classical language status. Unfortunately, due to the negligence of the State Government and the Chief Minister, the language has not been used as the official language.” he said.
Besides, tension gripped the Sishu Bhawan while members of the Student wing of the Congress tried to march towards the Naveen Niwas protesting the Chief Minister’s attitude towards Odia.
Holing slates and pencils in hands, Congress student leaders under the leadership of its president Iitish Pradhan took out a rally here from Master Canteen Square and marched towards the Naveen Niwas to teach Odia to the Chief Minister.
However, they were blocked by police. The cops arrested a group of students, including Pradhan.