On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Utkal Gourab Madhusudan Das who was one of the pioneers in forming Odisha as a separate State on language basis, several organisations and language bodies on Thursday took out protest rallies and defaced English nameplates demanding enforcement of Orissa Official language Act 1954 in the State.
In the capital city, people from different walks of life under the banner of Odia Bhasa Suraksha Sammilani took out a candle rally highlighting the poor status of Odia language and the apathetic attitude of the State Government towards its promotion and protection.
Sammilani president and Rajya Sabha member Baishnab Parida, senior journalist Barendra Krushna Dhal and many others participated in the rally seeking due recognition to the mother tongue.
In Puri, Pujya Pooja Sansad activists defaced the signboards written in English at the district SP office and other commercial and private establishments. Police arrested four activists of the Sansad.
The activists led by Sansad convenor Krushna Jagdev sprayed black colour on the English signboards of the Government and private establishments. The protestors also blackened some police messages written in English at the traffic post.
Police arrested Jagdev, Odisha Bhasa Suraksha Parishad district unit chief Digambar Behera, Debendra Tarei and activist Sanjay Pradhan.