Bhubaneswar: The BJP has requested the Odisha government to make the use of the Odia language mandatory in all State Assembly business.
The Leader of the Opposition, Pradipta Naik, made the request in a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Naik wrote that there is no official use of Odia language either in Lok Seva Bhawan or the Assembly and delivery of court verdicts in English is an impediment.
The BJP leader also said that it was unfortunate that the Chief Minister gave his statements in the Assembly mostly in English.
Notably, the Assembly had passed the Odisha Official Language (Amendment) Bill on May 1, 2018. The bill had penal provisions for non-compliance and rewards for extensive use of Odia by state government officials in official communications.
