Odisha Congress pitches for Bharat Ratna to Madhusudan Das

Bhubaneswar: State unit of Congress today pitched for Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, to great visionary Madhusudan Das for his immense contribution towards building of modern Odisha.

Expressing displeasure over government’s ‘lack of respect’ to Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das and Utkal Gourab Madhusudan Das, Congress Legislature Party leader Narasingha Mishra alleged that the government is forgetting the contribution of these two legends.

Raising the issue during zero hour in Assembly today, the senior Congress leader urged the government to recommend the Centre for conferring Bharat Ratna (posthumous) on Madhusudan Das.

He also requested to set up the proposed Odia University at Bakula Bana, and revive the green cover of the place devastated by cyclone FANI in Odisha,

Referring a news report published in Odisha’s leading Daily ‘Sambad’, Mishra expressed his pain over negligence of the government towards FANI-ravaged Bakula Bana, which is closely associated with Gopabandhu Das.

He said that no government official has paid visit to Bakula Bana after cyclone FANI.

Even after nine months of laying foundation stone for the proposed Odia varsity at Bakula Bana, no initiative has been taken so far, Mishra alleged.

He urged Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro to direct the government to take quick initiative for Bharat Ratna recommendation from the state to Centre for Madhusudan Das as well as to develop proposed Odia University site as part of offering homage to these great leaders of Odisha.