Bhubaneswar, Nov. 17: BJD's Rajya Sabha member Baishnab Charan Parida today said he would organise an agitation on November 23 against the state government for not giving due recognition to the Odia language.

Parida, convenor of Bhasha Suraksha Sammiliani, an organisation working for the promotion of Odia language in the state, today said: "Rallies and demonstrations will be held in front of the district collector's office on November 23, which coincides with the birth anniversary of former chief minister Naba Krushna Choudhury to put forth our demand on giving due status to Odia."

The Official Language Act was passed in the Assembly during the tenure of Choudhury in the 1950s.

Parida also announced that Choudhury's birth anniversary would be observed as Bhasa Surakhya Divas (Language Protection Day).

"During the tenure of Choudhury, who served the state between 1950 and 1956, Odia gained the status of the official language of the state. But even after 68 years of Independence, the state government has failed to enforce it fully. The administration is still using English, which will hinder the growth of the Odia language," Parida said.

The BJD MP pointed out that the ministerial committee headed by school and mass minister Debi Prasad Mishra, set up by chief minister Naveen Patnaik, "was formed in July to examine our demands. But the committee has failed to make any headway. It has met only once".

A delegation will meet Naveen on November 23 and submit a memorandum to this effect.

"We will seek an appointment with him and apprise him of the need to enforce Odia as the official language."

Parida was behind the initiative of sending one lakh postcards to the chief minister urging him to make the Odia as the official language of the state.

The outspoken MP had shot into limelight last year when he had cited Mahatma Gandhi's quote about ruler knowing the language of the ruled.

"Whoever is the ruler should know the language of the ruled. Otherwise he cannot rule the people. It's because of our language that we are a separate state. It's the language and culture that is the life and blood of a community," he had said citing Gandhi.

This was interpreted as a dig at chief minister Naveen Patnaik, whose knowledge of Odia remains a subject of controversy. However, the MP had clarified that that he had no intention of hurting the sentiments of the chief minister.