Use Odia in Assembly proceedings: Odisha LoP urges CM

Bhubaneswar: Leader of Opposition (LoP) Pradipta Naik has shot off a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik urging him to take necessary steps to ensure usage of Odia in all proceedings of the state Assembly.

In the letter, the LoP alleged that the Government’s decision to use Odia in all Government works has remained only in pen and papers. Alleging step-motherly attitude towards the mother tongue, Naik said almost all letters in Assembly and Lok Seva Bhawan are being written in English. Besides, several judicial reports, departmental expenditure reports, commission reports and various notices are being released in the foreign language, he added.

“On November 4, 2011, the name of the state was changed from Orissa to Odisha and the language from Oriya to Odia. However, the state’s name has not been changed in the signage of the High Court. This can be changed if the Government remains determined to do the same” Naik stated.

He further opined that besides judicial works, court judgements can also be pronounced in Odia “While several other states have taken such initiative to promote their mother tongue, why can’t Odish replicate the same?, he questioned.

The  BJP leader further said, “I request you take immediate steps for usage of Odia in all Government works, Assembly and judicial proceedings for the larger interest of the people of the state.”