BHUBANESWAR: Even as the Government decided to launch the year-long Biju Patnaik centenary celebrations through out the State from March 5, a war of words has started between Excise Minister Damodar Rout and party spokesperson Pratap Jena over the issue of celebrating the occasion at Paradip.
While Jena maintained that BJD is yet to take any decision to celebrate birth centenary of Biju Patnaik at Paradip, Rout said the function will be organised by Biju Memorial Trust and no one’s permission is required for this.
“The BJD has not taken any decision to hold the function at Paradip. If Rout has decided to organise such an event in his personal capacity, I have nothing to say about it,” Jena said.
Jena said BJD has constituted Biju Patnaik Centenary Committee to finalise places and dates for the celebrations. Rout, however, said the function will be organised at Paradip to honour the wishes of people of the area. Rout, who is also Paradip MLA, had announced on Sunday that the birth centenary of Biju Patnaik will be celebrated at Paradip on March 5.
Meanwhile, the Government has estimated that around 20,000 representatives of panchayatiraj institutions and BJD workers will attend the State level function to be organised by it on March 5. Sarpanchs of 6211 gram panchayats, members of panchayat samitis and Zilla Parishads, all MLAs and MPs, mayor of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, chairpersons of corporations, secretaries of Government departments and senior officials will be invited to the function.
Minister of State for Panchayatiraj Arun Sahu presided over a meeting to review preparations for the year-long celebrations to be launched by Government from March 5.