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Regular-article-logo Tuesday, 01 July 2025

MP's veiled jab at CM's inability to speak Odia

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SUBHASHISH MOHANTY Published 05.11.14, 12:00 AM

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 4: Rajya Sabha member of the BJD Baishnab Charan Parida has made subtle criticism of the party president and chief minister Naveen Patnaik for his inability to learn Odia.

Talking to The Telegraph over phone, Parida said: “I have high regards for the chief minister. I have no intention to belittle anyone. But, it is not a crime to suggest that he should learn the language, because if one does not know Odia, it will be difficult on his part to understand the language of the masses.”

The controversy has started following a statement by the Rajya Sabha member at a function on Sunday in Bhawanipatna, 590km from here.

The 63-year-old MP said: “First, I am an Odia, then a politician,” and had made references to the chief minister for not being able to speak the language. He was addressing a meeting of the Odia Bhasa Surakshya Samiliani, an organisation working for the promotion of Odia language in the state.

Parida had recalled how during the tenure of the then chief minister Nabakrushna Choudhury in 1954, Odia language had gained the status of official language of the state.

“However, our administrators, even after 67 years of Independence, have failed to give due recognition to the language. The administration is still running in English language,” he said.

Parida also felt that the chief minister needed to do a little more about the promotion of Odia. “Though Naveen babu has done a lot for the development of the state, he should lay greater emphasis on the promotion of Odia language at the administrative level.”

The MP also cited one of the quotes of Gandhiji with regards to the importance of a ruler being conversant with the language of his people. “Whoever is the ruler should know the language of the ruled. Otherwise he cannot rule the people,” Parida had quoted Gandhi. Parida has been defending his statement in private television channels.

The Odisha Bhasha Pratisthan meeting on Sunday also passed a resolution, urging the state government to implement a proposal to work towards according Odia the status of official language. It also passed another resolution, requesting the government to give appointment to the candidates, who have completed their studies in Odia medium, in various fields as encouragement.

However, Parida pleaded that no political colour should be given to his statement, otherwise the purpose of the campaign for making Odia language official would be defeated. The pratisthan plans to launch an awareness programme urging the people to use Odia in business establishments and hoardings. It also aims to involve a number of NGOs and eminent personalities from various walks of life to work towards the promotion of the Odia language.

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