Members of the Utkal Sammilani here have demanded accordance of State Anthem status to Odia patriotic song Bande Utkal Janani and decided to resort to agitation if the demand is not fulfilled within next six months.
A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting held during the observance of the death anniversary of the song’s writer Kantakabi laxmikanta Mohapatra on Tuesday.
Earlier, Sammilani State president Dr Guru Prasad Mohanty garlanded the statue of Mohapatra near the PMG square here. Other members including State general secretary Dr Adweita Patra, Bhubaneswar branch head Bibhuti Mishra, Mancheswar Industrial Estate branch president Dillip Dashsharma and State treasurer Usarani Mohanty offered floral tribute near the statue.