Odisha Govt Failed To Uphold Odia Asmita, Ministers Don’t Know Our Language: BJD Leader

Bhubaneswar: Hitting out at the Bhratiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Odisha over ‘Odia Asmita’, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Wednesday said tall claims made by the saffron party on Odia pride have turned out to be hollow.

Addressing a press meet in Bhubaneswar, BJD leader Lekhashri Samantasinghar said that BJP has come to power in the state after making Odia Asmita a major poll plank.

However, after forming government in the state, BJP has been showing utter disrespect to Odia Asmita without showing any sign of upholding the pride of Odisha and its language, she claimed.

Stating that Ministers are unable to read and write Odia, the BJD leader cited an example and claimed that Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari failed to write ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jay’ in Odia and wrote ‘Darat Mata Ki Jay.’

This apart, she further accused Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi of being unable to speak Odia or English properly.

Coming down heavily on the BJP government, Lekhashri the saffron party leaders are trying to give lessons on Odia Asmita to others without knowing the language.

Stating that BJP can never uphold Odia pride, she claimed that the Chief Minister visits New Delhi simply to receive instructions from others and returns to safeguard the interest of the Centre.

Claiming that a branch office of the PMO has been opened in Odisha CMO, she said BJP will never work for upholding Odia pride.