Odisha CM Mohan Majhi In Dark Over Renaming Biju Patnaik Sports Awards?

Bhubaneswar: In an about-turn amid political slugfest, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday clarified that no decision has been taken by his government in Odisha on renaming ‘Biju Patnaik Sports Awards’.

“Biju Patnaik Sports Award will continue like in the past. No official decision has been taken regarding the name change,” he told reporters.

Interestingly, Majhi said he had no prior information about the ‘name change’ and got to know about it from the media. “My government gives much importance to legendary personalities of the soil. Biju Babu will forever be remembered for his decades-long contribution to Odisha as well as the nation in both political and social spheres,” he said.

The CM’s statement has put a question mark on the functioning and alleged lack of coherence in the maiden BJP government in the state with the CM himself being kept in dark over decisions being taken by a department. This assumes significance since the BJD, ousted of power after 24 years, is keeping a close watch on the government with its ‘shadow cabinet’ and can corner the Majhi dispensation in the upcoming Assembly session over such faux pass.

The Sports and Youth Services Department in a notification issued on July 19 (Friday) replaced the existing Biju Patnaik Awards for Sports, Bravery, and State Awards with Odisha Rajya Krida Samman to be awarded in eight categories annually. The decision triggered a political slugfest with the BJD accusing BJP of resorting to narrow and revengeful politics.

The previous Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government had instituted the award in 2001-2002 in the honour of Biju Patnaik to felicitate eminent sports personalities of the state and excellence in sports journalism. It is the highest honour in the field of sports in the state.

Expressing displeasure over the name change, senior BJD leader Arun Kumar Sahoo said Biju Patnaik is not just an individual but an institution who has earned international laurels. “Leaders across parties respect Biju babu. He participated in the freedom struggle of the country. I request the government to refrain from such decisions,” he added.

“What does the state government want to prove by removing his name from sports awards?” he further asked.