Bhubaneswar: Police on Friday detained some persons for allegedly trying to barge into Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s residence, Naveen Niwas, in Bhubaneswar in protest against first “Biswa Odia Bhasa Sammilani” (World Odia Language Conference).
As per reports, the persons went to Naveen Niwas to present ‘Chhabila Madhu Barnabodha’ (Odia illustrated alphabet book) to the Chief Minister.
As the security personnel deployed there did not allow them entry into the building, they threw the books into the premises and raised slogans. In order to prevent any untoward situation, the police detained the persons.
The protesters said they opposed the World Odia Language Conference on the ground it was being hosted by the state government headed by the chief minister who himself cannot speak Odia. “We wanted to give the Odia alphabet book to the chief minister so that he can learn Odia language before going ahead with the conference,” said one of the protesters.
It may be noted that the government has elaborate plans to organise the Sammilani which will be held in Bhubaneswar for three days from Saturday. Linguists, litterateurs and experts from around the world will deliberate on preservation and promotion of Odia language during the conference.
