Parida throws Odia jab at CM

SAMBALPUR:Coming down heavily on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, former Rajya Sabha member and BJD leader Baishnab Charan Parida on Tuesday said those who do not know the language of the people have no right to rule the State.

Addressing mediapersons here, Parida said it is unfortunate that Naveen has been ruling Odisha for the last 17 years without knowing Odia. Since the CM does not know how to speak and read Odia, he is unable to understand the problems of the State. Naveen has been ruling Odisha through bureaucrats, Parida said.
It is the democratic right of people to be ruled through Odia language. The use of Odia in administration, judiciary besides commerce and trade has declined drastically during the last 17 years, the BJD leader said.

Use of Odia language was around 65 per cent in administration, judiciary and commerce and trade when JB Patnaik was the chief minister. Currently, Odia is used in only about 4 per cent in administration and judiciary while the language is no more used in trade and commerce, he said.

“Language is the identity of a nation and its greatest intellectual property,” the BJD leader said.
Parida reiterated his demand for formation of Language Commission in the State and implementation of the Odisha Official Language Act, 1954. A statutory body should monitor and evaluate the implementation of the Act and be vested with the power to recommend punishment in case of violation, he said.

Parida, who is also the president of Bhasa Surakhya Sammilani, said a civil disobedience movement will be launched in front of district Collectorates across the State on October 16 over implementation of the Odisha Official Language Act and formation of Language Commission.

Defending Naveen, Sambalpur BJD MLA Raseswari Panigrahi said four and a half crore people of the State have have been electing him for the last 17 years and everyone knows he is a popular CM.When asked whether action would be initiated against Parida, Panigrahi said Naveen will take decision on it.