Indus Valley Times

By Nalini Sahu

Bhubaneswar, March 5: The Odisha government’s decision to separate Biju Patnaik Jayanti from Panchayati Raj Divas and revoke the March 5 public holiday has triggered a political firestorm. Opposition parties, including the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress, have criticized the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for what they perceive as an affront to the late leader’s legacy.

BJD leader Pramila Mallik accused the BJP of disregarding Odisha’s history, stating, “Biju Patnaik played a pivotal role in strengthening the Panchayati Raj system in 1993. His birthday was designated as Panchayati Raj Divas to honor his contributions. The present government, which claims to champion ‘Odia Asmita’ (Odia Pride), is now dishonoring a visionary leader.”

Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Bhakta Charan Das also condemned the decision, arguing that Biju Patnaik’s legacy transcended party politics. “The Congress initiated National Panchayati Raj Day in 2010, and Odisha rightly honored Biju Babu’s contributions with a holiday. The BJP’s decision to revoke this is unfortunate and unnecessary,” he said.

Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari defended the move, insisting that Biju Patnaik belongs to the entire nation and not just to a single political party. “Biju Babu is a national icon, not exclusive to the BJD. The observance of Panchayati Raj Divas on April 24 aligns Odisha with the rest of the country, ensuring consistency,” he explained.

Pujari also questioned why Odisha had maintained a separate date for Panchayati Raj celebrations while the rest of India observed it on April 24. “Why should Odisha remain isolated when the entire nation marks this occasion in April? A uniform observance strengthens the significance of Panchayati Raj,” he remarked.

On the cancellation of the March 5 public holiday, Pujari emphasized that commemorating Biju Patnaik should not come at the cost of disrupting an entire working day. “Biju Babu was a ‘Baraputra’ (great son) of Odisha, a towering figure in Indian history. His contributions are undisputed, but the idea that honoring him necessitates a holiday is debatable,” he stated.

The debate over the government’s decision is expected to continue, with political parties positioning themselves around the issue in the lead-up to the upcoming elections.