Odisha: Naveen Patnaik slams BJP govt’s move to change Panchayati Raj Diwas date

Alleging that the decision was an attempt to erase the legacy of his father Biju Patnaik, the BJD chief also questioned the rationale behind changing a tradition that has been followed for over 30 years.

Updated on: Mar 5, 2025, 16:52:02 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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Former Odisha chief minister and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state for not celebrating March 5 as Panchayati Raj Diwas, the birthday of veteran leader Biju Patnaik.

Veteran Odisha leader and freedom fighter Biju Patnaik. (HT File Photo)

Alleging that the decision was an attempt to erase the legacy of his father, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief also questioned the rationale behind changing a tradition that has been followed for over 30 years.

“For more than three decades, Odisha has celebrated Panchayati Raj Diwas on March 5. What is the reason for this decision? You can change the names of awards, deface his statues and alter the dates, but you cannot take away the love and affection that people have for Biju Babu. He lives in the hearts of the people,” Patnaik said while attending a function in BJD’s office to celebrate the birth anniversary of his father.

Patnaik said the BJP, under chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi, is engaging in “immature politics and small-minded actions” by repeatedly targeting the legacy of Biju Patnaik.

“Can the BJP shut down Paradip Port, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd in Sunabeda, NTPC in Talcher, or institutions like OUAT and NIT Rourkela — projects that bear Biju Patnaik’s imprint? Now, they are trying to change the name of Biju Patnaik International Airport. Can you erase the history that Biju Babu was a freedom fighter who went to jail for India’s independence? How many projects will you attempt to erase his legacy from?” he asked.

The BJD has also announced state-wide protests from Thursday over this.

Responding to Patnaik’s remarks, state BJP president Manmohan Samal said the former CM should answer why his government had stopped holding ‘gram sabha’ and ‘palli sabha’ meetings since 2011.

“The BJD government had finished the Panchayati Raj system, and they got the response (of citizens) in the 2024 (state) polls,” Samal said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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