Bhubaneswar: Former Lok Sabha MP Sidhant Mohapatra, who recently joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has launched a scathing critique against Odisha’s ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD). In a press conference held in Bhubaneswar, Mohapatra accused the BJD of neglecting the Odia language and undermining the state’s cultural heritage.
Mohapatra alleged that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s administration has failed to uphold the essence of Odia identity. He criticized Patnaik for allegedly using “Roman English” instead of properly speaking Odia and condemned the government’s lackluster efforts in promoting the language.
Highlighting several grievances regarding the BJD government’s treatment of the Odia language, Mohapatra expressed disappointment over the CM’s absence during the Utakala Dibasa celebration. He also criticized the appointment of a non-Odia coordinator for the World Odia Language Conference.
Describing the government’s claims of promoting Odia as hollow, Mohapatra pledged the BJP’s commitment to safeguarding and elevating the status of the Odia language if the party comes to power. His remarks underscore the growing discontent and political maneuvering surrounding the issue of language preservation and cultural heritage in Odisha’s political landscape.
