Bhasha Andolan refuses to bite Naveen Patnaik’s Bait

Although Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik has announced that efforts are being taken to implement the Odisha Official Languages Act by August 15, 2016 so that Odia becomes an official language and governance of Odisha becomes possible in our own language, the Bhasha Andolan, which has been spearheading the ‘black flag march’ in the state, has refused to believe his statement.

The Bhasha Andolan founder members – Subhas Chandra Pattanayak (Chairman), Pradyumna Satpathy (President) and Pabitra Maharatha (Convener) held a press meet last evening to reject the CM’s announcement. They called it “hoodwinking tricks” of the CM to divert the attention and suppress the movement, which is spreading to every part of the state like a bush-fire.

Shri Subhas Pattanayak had reminded the people that a similar promise was made by the CM inside the Assembly in December 2015, but no action was taken in the last six months. The government is just buying time to divert the attention from its failure, he alleged.

The Bhasha Andolan members reiterated their four-point demand yet again:

1. Penal provision for violators of 1954 Odisha Official Language Act.
2. Abolition of 1963 Amendment, which gave a back-door entry to English.
3. Renaming of Odisha Official Language Act as Odisha Public Language Act.
4. To implement all the above, amendment to the basic provisions of the law.

As a member of Ministerial Committee, Shri Subhas Chandra Pattanyak had submitted a draft proposal in this regard in September 2015, which is listed on the government website. However, the government has diluted the draft to come up with a law, which suits it better with the help of some members, who have adopted a conciliatory approach towards the government, said Shri Pattanayak.

The Bhasha Andolan has vowed to continue their ‘black flag protest march’ till all its demands are met and the ‘Governance of Odisha in Odia Language’ becomes a reality in undiluted form.