BHUBANESWAR: Two days after chief minister
Naveen Patnaik wrote a letter to Prime Minister
Narendra Modi seeking to notify hockey as national game, opposition BJP and Congress on Friday criticised Naveen for not notifying ‘Bande Utkala Janani..’ as state anthem of Odisha.
Bande Utkala Janani is an Odia patriotic poem written by
Kantakabi Laxmikanta Mohapatra written before Odisha became a province in 1936.
What is being seen as a counter to Naveen’s demand, BJP spokesperson Golak Mohapatra said Naveen should immediately ensure a gazette notification for Bande Utkala Janani as state anthem.
“Naveen is constantly in power for past more than 18 years leading a regional party. Despite that it is surprising he has done nothing to notify the state anthem. It shows his commitment towards Odisha,” Golak told reporters.
“It’s sad and unfortunate since there have been consistent demands from various quarters to notify it as state anthem,” Golak said.
Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati said it is for the home department to issue such a notification. As minister in-charge of home department, the chief minister should take steps, he said.
Industrialist-politician
Baijayant Panda tweeted in Odia expressing surprise that Bande Utkala Janani was no notified as state anthem and demanded such a notification should be issued soon.
BJD MP and spokesperson Kalikesh Singhdeo said the government would definitely examine and do whatever it should to ensure Bande Utkala Janani gets its proper respect.
An outfit, Ame Odia, staged demonstration at Master Canteen Square pressing for the demand.
Notably, the politics over “notification” has intensified after Naveen wrote a letter to the Prime Minister on June 20, expressing surprise and shock that hockey was never notified as national game. Union sports minister had reacted by saying there was no need for an “official proclamation to love hockey.”