The Odisha Assembly witnessed a fiery exchange between the ruling BJP and the opposition BJD on Wednesday during the discussion on the adjournment motion.
The debate centered around the cancellation of the holiday on Biju Patnaik’s birthday and the change in the date of the Panchayati Raj Day celebration.
Initiating the discussion, Deputy Leader of the Opposition Prasanna Acharya criticized the state government’s decision to change the tradition of celebrating Panchayati Raj Day on Biju Patnaik’s birth anniversary. He emphasized that Biju Patnaik was not only a former Chief Minister but also a freedom fighter and a symbol of India’s identity. Acharya expressed his dismay, stating that it was shameful to debate whether Biju Patnaik’s birthday should be celebrated or not.
MLA Ganeswar Behera echoed Acharya’s sentiments, calling the decision disrespectful to Biju Babu, whose contributions to Odisha are unparalleled. He urged the government to reconsider its decision and rectify its mistake. MLA Ranendra Pratap Swain highlighted Biju Patnaik’s role as the builder of modern Odisha and criticized the government for removing March 5 from the list of government holidays just two days before Biju Jayanti.
In response, BJP MLA Babu Singh accused LoP Naveen Patnaik of sidelining those who supported Biju Patnaik. Singh claimed that the BJD was now trying to rewrite history and questioned the party’s sincerity in honoring Biju Patnaik’s legacy.
MLA Amar Nayak argued that the BJD had failed to recognize the contributions of other freedom fighters like Harekrushna Mahatab and Madhu Babu over the past 24 years. He stated that it was inappropriate to celebrate Panchayati Raj Day on different dates across the state and called for a unified celebration on April 24, in line with National Panchayati Raj Day.
Responding to the discussion, Panchayati Raj Minister Rabi Naik defended the government’s decision, explaining that the 73rd Constitution Amendment Act, 1993, came into force on April 24, 1993. To commemorate this, April 24 has been celebrated as National Panchayati Raj Day since 2012. Naik emphasized that the government had decided to align the state’s Panchayati Raj Day celebration with the national event to make it more memorable.
Naik also dismissed the opposition’s claims, stating that there was passion but no clarity in their arguments. He reiterated that the government had celebrated Biju Patnaik’s birth anniversary with great pomp and that the decision to change the date of Panchayati Raj Day was in the best interest of the state.
The debate in the Assembly highlighted the deep political divide between the ruling and opposition parties, with both sides passionately defending their positions on the issue.
