World Odisha Society Concerned Over Kotia Issue

Bhubaneswar: The working committee of the World Odisha Society (WOS) expressed grave concern and deep anguish over the ongoing dispute in the Kotia group of villages situated in border district Koraput.

The working committee of WOS in its first online meeting deliberated over the entire scenario and the long-pending boundary issue between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.

Presided over by senior journalist and chairman of WOS Kishore Dwibedi, the video conference meeting demanded strong action against some of the errant officers of the Andhra Pradesh government who attempted to annex the Kotia villages with their state under the false garb of the election.

The committee attended by WOS members across the world unanimously passed a resolution strongly condemning the unreasonable and illegal action by Andhra Pradesh. The committee denounced the “conspiracy” hatched by the authorities of Andhra Pradesh for taking over the possession of these villages.

The working committee of WOS expressed its solidarity with Odia residents in the border areas and took a pledge to fight for the maintenance of their security and protect the territorial integrity of Odisha.

The resolution also disapproved the irrational treatment being meted out to the Odias living in the affected cut off areas (Bichhinanchal) of Odisha and affirmed to give the highest priority to solve their problems. WOS further, resolved its total commitment to protect the overall interest of Odia residents at the border and to ensure their all-round development.

After the conclusion of the meeting, Chairman Kishore Dwibedi announced that WOS shall initiate all possible measures including resort to legal remedies and otherwise to provide justice to Odia brothers, sisters and their families staying at border areas.

Addressing the internet gathering dignitaries like senior advocate Ajit Patra, former DG Police Manmohan Praharaj, former collector of Koraput Gadadhar Parida, leaders of Purnanga Utkal Nyasa Mandali, Sitaballav Mohapatra and Parsuram Dwibedi, legal adviser of WOS Shivashankar Mishra, Ambedkar Foundation director Dr Debendra Majhi, IT Expert RN Behera, Bhasha Andolan convenor Pabitra Maharatha, senior bureaucrat Krupanidhi Biswal, chartered accountants Ravi Pani and Sudhir Dash and spokesperson of WOS from Australia, Swati supported the stand taken by WOS.

Expressing sympathy towards the victimised residents of the Odisha border, the distinguished speakers declared to stand by them at their hour of crisis.

The convenors and co-convenors of WOS Committees like Mission & Vision, NRO Ministry, Ethics, Membership and Techno presented the progress statement during the webinar.

Other working committee members who attended the digital meeting include Amiya Mishra, Sanjay Das, Sibaranjan Biswal, Sumita Sahu, Manoj Nayak, Siddharth Das, Pradeep Rath, Sunanda Mishra, Tanmay Panda, Debarshi Mallik, Chidatmika Khatua and Minaketan Samal.

The Special invitees present on the occasion were Prabhati Mishra, Deepak Das, Binay Patanayak, Sanjiv Patnaik, Krushna Nayak, Mangala Prasad Mohanty and Pradeep Mohapatra.

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