BHUBANESWAR: President Pranab Mukherjee will inaugurate the year long festival being organised by the Union government to celebrate bi-centenary celebration of Paika rebellion in New Delhi. This was announced by Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan here.
Pradhan said the President has given his consent to his request to inaugurate the function. The Union Minister said since the tenure of the President is going to be over soon, he has entrusted the responsibility of arranging the function to the Union Culture Secretary. Though Paika Rebellion is considered as the first War of Independence, Pradhan said it has not yet been recognised by the historians.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently felicitated 16 relatives of the great warriors of Odisha who have fought against the British at a function in Governor’s house here. Pradhan said the cultural heritage of Odisha is no way less than the literature, culture and art of any country in the world and called upon the youths to link the heritage with the present