Minister’s Proposal To Change ‘Utkal’ In Bande Utkal Janani Song Sparks Fresh Row

Bhubaneswar: While the demand for state song status to ‘Bande Utkal Janani’ by the state government has been intensifying across Odisha, the controversial statement by a BJD leader and Minister of Western Odisha on this issue has triggered a fresh row.
Talking to the mediapersons here on Tuesday, Bhatli MLA and Labour & Employees State Insurance and Energy Minister Susanta Singh, said though ‘Bande Utkal Janani’ is one of the adorable songs of Odisha, some people in Western Odisha, spearheading the Kosala movement, are protesting against it.

“People in most places in Western Odisha have suggested that the song will be acceptable if the word ‘Utkal’ is replaced with ‘Odisha’. Instead of Bande Utkal Janani, it should be ‘Bande Odisha  Janani’. I don’t know what decision the state government is going to take on this matter. But it would be better if it considers the sentiments of the people of Western Odisha,” he added.

Reacting to the statement of the minister, BJP state spokesperson Golak Mohapatra said, “Let the state government take a call on this matter.” “Does the state government want what Susanta Singh has proposed? Let the government make it clear,” he pointed out.

Taking a dig at the minister’s contentious statement, Dilip Dasburma, president of Utkal Sammilani’s Mancheswar branch in Bhubaneswar, said the former is trying for a regional divide.

“We had several meetings in Western Odisha in the recent past where there was unanimous and overwhelming response by the people in favour of state song status to ‘Bande Utkal Janani’. Nowhere in this region have people suggested replacement of the word ‘Utkal’ in the song. The chief minister should take exemplary action against Singh and sack him from his ministry with immediate effect for encouraging regional divide in the state,” he maintained.

Condemning the minister’s statement, activists of ‘Ame Odia’ took out a protest rally in the state capital in the afternoon.