New Delhi, July 16 (PTI): The BJP-led NDA government will organise a year-long celebration of the Paika Rebellion, which many claim was the first war of independence against the British and is one of the state's pride points.

Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan, a member of the Centre's committee to celebrate the rebellion that ended in 1817, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was likely to attend a function marking the start of the celebrations in Odisha.

"We are celebrating the Paika rebellion's 200th anniversary in Delhi in a big way on July 20," culture minister Mahesh Sharma said.

Pradhan said the celebrations would be held across the country for a year. A proposal has also been sent to the National Implementation Committee, headed by Union home minister Rajnath Singh, to build a permanent monument as a memorial to Paika warriors in the historic Barunei hills near Bhubaneshwar.

"The Paika vidroh was not a local event. Through these celebrations, we are making efforts to bring such struggles to the national sphere," Pradhan said.