While the whole State is rejoicing over classical tag to Odia, local MlA Sarada Prasad Nayak has landed in trouble giving a speech in Hindi, apparently to impress his master Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, at a public meeting held at Uditnagar Ground on February 23.
Nayak’s Hindi speech stunned the spectators as Patnaik, who is well-know as an Odia-non-speaking Chief Minister, and Commerce and Transport Minister Subrat Tarai gave their respective speeches in Odia. “While the State Government has been trying to take all credit for classical tag to Odia language by spending a lot of money in publishing full page advertisements in various vernacular dailies, the MlA’s Hindi speech in the presence of the Chief Minister is a disrespect to our mother tongue,” said an Odia language lover.
Some organisations like Utkal Sammilani and Odia Bhasa Bikash Manch have also slammed Nayak for addressing a public meeting in a non-Odia language. Sources said some organisations are also planning to hold a protest rally here soon. The political observers opine that Nayak would pay a heavy cost for his Hindi speech as the general election is round the corner.