Despite the fact that Hindi is acknowledged as our National language, there is no place for the language in the Odisha Assembly. Speaker Niranjan Pujari on Monday debarred a MlA from asking a question in Hindi.
However, the Speaker had not given any ruling or clarification for putting a ban on his Hindi speech. During the Question Hour, Opposition Congress member Kengam Surya Rao in his supplementary to the main question relating to Central assistance for Phailin- affected areas began speaking in Hindi. However, he was abruptly stopped by Speaker Pujari. Much to his surprise, Pujari said that the MlA cannot make any statement in Hindi; rather, he may ask the question in Odia or English. Rao then made his statement in Odia. However, he later expressed his dissatisfaction over the Speaker’s decision. Rao said that he was hurt that the House did not allow him to speak in Hindi, despite the fact that Hindi had already made its presence in the United Nations.