Agriculture Minister Damodar Rout, who has drawn a lot of flak for saying that Jayi Rajaguru is not a freedom-fighter, dragged Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan into the controversy on Saturday.
Rout questioned why Pradhan celebrated 200 years of the Paika Rebellion in 2017 if Rajaguru had fought the Britishers in 1804.
The first freedom struggle Paika Bidroha had taken place in 1817; so, Pradhan had celebrated the 200th anniversary of the rebellion in 2017. This proves that the Union Government considers Buxi Jagabandhu led the Paika Rebellion in 1817 as the first freedom struggle, which began after Jayi Rajaguru’s death, claimed Rout.
However, Rout reiterated that though Rajaguru was a staunch devotee of lord Jagannath and had made many social contributions, he was not a freedom fighter. “During my tenure as Culture Minister, I had asked a committee headed by eminent historian BC Roy to do research on the issue and the panel was of the same opinion.” he added.
The committee also stated that Rajaguru was not a freedom fighter; instead, he fought with the Britishers as the latter went back on their promise to give him two Parganas (estates), Rout said.