Bhubaneswar: Senior BJD leader and former minister Damodar Rout on Friday accused labour minister Sushant Singh of stoking "sub-regionalism".

The immediate reason for Rout's outburst is Singh's suggestion to replace the word "Utkal" with "Odisha" in the song Utkal Bande Janani. This Singh said would make the song acceptable to people of western Odisha as the state song.

Rout said: "Singh is trying to divide the state on the basis of sub-regionalism. He was one of the leaders who had played a major role in the May 29 coup orchestrated by Pyari Mohan Mohapatra to dethrone chief minister Naveen Patnaik."

Rout also attacked Singh saying he lacked basic knowledge about Odisha and Indian history. "By stating that the word Utkal be replaced by Odisha in the song Bande Utkal Janani, he wants to play the sub-regionalism card and divide the state. He should remember that he is a minister of the whole state and does not represent any particular region."

Singh's statement has even divided the BJD leadership in the state with party's Bargarh MP Prabhas Singh extending support to him.

Activists of Western Odisha Yuva Morcha, a regional outfit, have also backed the minister.

The contention of leaders opposing the word "Utkal" is that western regions of the state were not part of Utkal region. However, Rout said: "The song was penned before Independence by Kanata Kabi Laxmikanta Mohapatra. The minister should know that Utkal is not confined to Cuttack, Balasore and Puri. The minister should have that basic knowledge."

Singh, however, refused to join issue with Rout.