Odisha govt delinks Biju Patnaik birth anniversary from Panchayati Raj Day, no holiday on March 5

Bhubaneswar: The BJP government in Odisha on Monday said it would observe March 5 as the birth anniversary of former chief minister Biju Patnaik and not as 'Panchayati Raj Day,' as has been celebrated for decades, besides cancelling the holiday on that day.

"It is unfortunate that the state government delinked Biju Patnaik from the panchayati raj system. It was Biju Patnaik who strengthened the panchayati raj movement in the country and made 30 per cent reservation for women in the three-tier panchayati raj system," BJD leader and former minister Debi Prasad Mishra said.

In a statement, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said though March 5 has been celebrated as "Panchayati Raj Divas" in Odisha every year, this time the day will be observed on April 24, in alignment with the national observance.

While Odisha had observed 'Panchayati Raj Day' on March 5 since the 1990s to coincide with Biju Patnaik’s birthday, the national 'PR Day' is celebrated on April 24.

On this day, awards are given to panchayat representatives from various states, including the Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Award and others.

"To overcome this inconsistency at the national and state levels in the celebration of Panchayati Raj Day, the state government has decided to no longer celebrate March 5 as Panchayati Raj Day in Odisha and will instead celebrate it on April 24," the CMO said.

The state government also decided to observe Public Service Day on April 24. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has approved a proposal to observe March 5 as Biju Patnaik’s birth anniversary, rather than as PR Divas.

The state government’s announcement came hours after the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) asked the state government to clarify its stand on celebration of the PR Divas on March 5.

The BJD expressed disappointment over the state government’s indifference towards celebrating Panchayati Raj Divas on March 5.

"The Panchayati Raj Divas has been celebrated on the birthday of Biju Babu since the early 1990’s, irrespective of the party in power in Odisha. All previous governments including Congress, have celebrated it on March 5 as Panchayati Raj Divas. But it is a matter of great sorrow that the BJP government delinked Biju Patnaik’s name from the panchayati raj divas.,” BJD leader Debi Prasad Mishra said.

The state will celebrate 109th birth anniversary of Biju Patnaik on March 5.