Odisha Minority Forum strongly supports Jayant Mahapatra’s decision

Bhubaneswar, Nov 24: Odisha’s prominent minority body, the Odisha Minority Forum has come out in support of the decision by noted poet and writer Shri. Jayant Mahapatra to return his Padma Shri to the President of India. The forum said in a release issued here terming it as Shri.Mahapatra’s dissent owing to “moral asymmetry” in the society.

The Odisha Minority Forum strongly feels that Shri. Jayant Mahapatra has responded to the “voice of his conscience” and this decision of his should open forums for greater debate into the form of intolerance narrative that is being played out in the country over the past several months.

In his statement Odisha Minority Forum President Dr. Sasmit Patra stated, “India is a secular country but the right-wing discourse of intolerance being played out in the country today is unfortunate. The discourse of development in India has changed over the past one year. Elements of right-wing fundamentalism are seen gaining passive support from people who should be instrumental in suppressing them. Shri.Jayant Mahapatra, aged 88 years, has the conviction and courage to stand up against the growing intolerance. The lens of looking at the growing intolerance has to change from one of passivity to strong dissent as exhibited by Shri. Jayant Mahapatra.”