- विज्ञापन -
Bhubaneswar: In Bhubaneswar, Odisha, members of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) staged a protest outside the state assembly on Friday in response to the state government’s decision to change the date of Panchayati Raj Diwas from March 5 to April 24.
Earlier, the Odisha government, led by the BJP, announced that March 5 would no longer be celebrated as Panchayati Raj Divas, a tradition observed for years. Instead, it would mark the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik, and there would be no government holiday on that day. The new date for Panchayati Raj Diwas was set to align with the national observance on April 24.
The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) confirmed that the new date for Panchayati Raj Divas would be April 24, and March 5 would now exclusively celebrate Biju Patnaik’s birth anniversary, a move that faced criticism from opposition parties.
Former CM Naveen Patnaik condemned the decision, stating that while the BJP might change dates, names, and even deface statues, they could not erase the love and respect people have for Biju Patnaik. He emphasized that Biju Patnaik’s legacy as a freedom fighter and his role in Odisha’s development could not be wiped out, and the people’s affection for him would only grow.
The Congress party also criticized the move, with Odisha Congress President Bhakta Charan Das accusing the BJP government of disrespecting Odisha’s founding leaders, including Madhu Babu and Biju Patnaik.
