The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has launched a protest to press the BJP-led government in Odisha to rescind its decision to shift the celebration of Panchayati Raj Divas from Biju Jayanti on March 5 to April 24.
The BJD leaders staged protests near the statue of the legendary leader Biju Patnaik at Bhubaneswar airport, describing the decision as an insult to Biju Babu. They have threatened to launch agitations if the decision is not withdrawn.
The controversy erupted after the Odisha government, led by Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, announced the change in the celebration date. The BJD has criticized the move, terming it an evil design to systematically erase the legacy of Biju Patnaik. The government stated that the change was made to address the inconsistency between national and state-level celebrations of Panchayati Raj Day.
The BJD leaders emphasized Biju Patnaik’s pioneering contributions to the Panchayati Raj system in India and accused the BJP government of narrow-minded tactics. The decision follows the BJP government’s approach to renaming schemes previously named after Biju Patnaik.
On Monday, the state government announced that March 5, the birth anniversary of Biju Patnaik, would no longer be celebrated as Panchayati Raj Diwas. Instead, the day will be observed with grand celebrations, but it will not be a government holiday. The Panchayati Raj Diwas will now be celebrated along with the rest of the country on April 24.
Today, scores of BJD leaders staged a protest near Biju Patnaik’s statue in Bhubaneswar over the Odisha govt delinking his birth anniversary from Panchayati Raj Day and cancellation of holiday on March 5.
BJD Vice-President & former Minister Debi Prasad Mishra stated, “Yesterday, we warned the state government about their delay in announcing and communicating details regarding Panchayati Raj Day, which has been celebrated for the past three decades on Biju Babu’s birth anniversary. When Biju Babu was Chief Minister of the state, he introduced the Panchayat Raj Act and is recognized as the father of the Panchayat Raj in India.”
BJD leader Pratap Jena stated, “For over three decades, we have celebrated Panchayati Raj Day on the birth anniversary of Biju Babu in Odisha. It is very unfortunate that the BJP, after coming to power, has changed this tradition. We are protesting against this decision. Our protests will continue until the government withdraws its notification.”
Senior BJD leader and MLA Ranendra Pratap Swain criticized the decision, calling it undemocratic and socially divisive. He emphasized that Odisha had been observing Panchayati Raj Diwas long before the central government started celebrating it.
The BJD has vowed to continue its fight to preserve the legacy of Biju Patnaik and ensure that his contributions to the state are not forgotten and threatened statewide agitations if the government does not reverse the decision.
