Controversy erupts over Mohan Majhi Govt’s decision to change date of Panchayati Raj day celebration

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has criticised the decision of the Mohan Majhi Government to shift the Panchayati Raj Diwas celebration from March 5 to April 24 terming it an evil design to systematically erase legacy of legendary Biju Patnaik.

The BJD reacted sharply after CM Majhi approved proposal to change the celebration date. “Every year, Odisha observes Panchayati Raj Day on March 5, while April 24 is celebrated as National Panchayati Raj Day across India. On this occasion, awards such as the Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Award and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act Award are presented to Panchayat representatives from various States,” said Chief Minister’s Office in a statement.

“To address the inconsistency between national and State-level celebrations of Panchayati Raj Day, the Odisha Government has decided to shift the observance from March 5 to April 24,” it said.

Moreover, the State Government also said March 5, which is the birth anniversary of Biju Patnaik, would be celebrated in government offices in a grand manner. The day used to be a public holiday since 2020. Now it sands withdrawn.

“This reflects narrow-mindness of the BJP Government. All know the pioneering contribution of late Patnaik to Panchayati Raj system in India. He was the first to bring in one-third reservation for women in panchayati raj system in 1991. Subsequently, it was followed nationally,” said Debi Prasad Mishra, BJD vice president.

“While Balwantrai Mehta is considered as architect of Panchayati Raj system in the country, it was late Biju Patnaik who actually implemented it and carried forward the decentralization of governance,” said Mr. Mishra.

The BJD said, “The BJP often speaks of Odia Asmita [Odia Pride], but where is that pride when the government is attempting to denigrate one of Odisha’s greatest icons? The late leader not only fought for his own country’s freedom but also took part in the liberation struggle of another nation.”

Soon after the BJP came to power last year, it adopted approach to rename schemes implemented by the previous Naveen Patnaik-led Government and schemes which bore name of late Biju Patnaik, were rebranded with ‘neutral’ names.

Several prominent schemes in Odisha, including the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY), Biju Pucca Ghar, Biju Setu Yojana, Biju Yuva Sashaktikaran Yojana, Biju Saharanchal Vidyutikaran Yojana (BSVY), Biju KBK, Biju Kandhamal ‘o’ Gajapati Yojana, and Biju Sishu Surakhya Yojana, have been discontinued.

In July last year, the Mohan Majhi Government was forced to reverse its decision to rename the State’s premier sports awards, originally named after the legendary Biju Patnaik, following strong objections from the BJD. The Sports and Youth Services Department had initially replaced the Biju Patnaik Awards for Sports, Bravery, and State Awards with the Odisha State Sports Award.

Mr. Mishra also raised objection to mentioning of Biju Patnaik name as Bijayananda Patnaik in official order. “Though Bijayananda Patnaik was his official name, he was widely known and adored as Biju. People loved and respected him by that name. We fail to understand what the BJP government hopes to achieve with such petty and narrow-minded tactics,” he said.

It needs to be mentioned that the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) was founded in 1997 after name of late Biju Patnaik, father of Mr. Naveen Patnaik. As a regional party, the BJD has achieved unprecedented success, remaining in power and dominating Odisha’s political landscape for over two and a half decades.