Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik criticizes the govt’s decision to dissociate Panchayati Raj Day from Biju Patnaik’s birth anniversary.

BHUBANESWAR: Former chief minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday strongly criticised the govt’s decision to dissociate Panchayati Raj Day from his father Biju Patnaik’s birth anniversary, stating that “you cannot take away the love and affection that people of Odisha have for Biju Babu.”
“The name Biju Babu fills every Odia’s heart with pride and courage,” Naveen said, describing his father as “a tall man with a large heart filled with courage and compassion” who served as “the pillar of faith for four and a half crore people of Odisha.”
The BJD chief pointed out that March 5 has been celebrated as Panchayati Raj Diwas in Odisha since 1993. “For more than 30 years, the state has celebrated this day. What is the reason for such a decision now?” he questioned, pointing out the govt decision to celebrate Panchayati Raj Diwas on April 24, aligning with the national calendar.
The leader of the opposition also highlighted recent incidents of vandalism targeting Biju’s statues, alleging govt inaction against perpetrators. He recalled the BJP govt’s earlier attempt to rename the Biju sports awards, which was withdrawn following public protests.
Challenging the BJP govt’s attempts to “erase the legacy” of Biju Patnaik, he listed his father’s contributions to the state, including the establishment of Paradip Port, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Sunabeda, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Talcher, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), and NIT Rourkela. He also emphasised Biju Patnaik’s role in introducing women’s reservation in Panchayat bodies.
“Biju Babu is not just a state leader or national leader, but an international leader,” Naveen asserted, adding that his father’s legacy extends beyond physical monuments to the hearts of the Odia people.
The former chief minister dismissed these actions as “immature politics and narrow minds,” maintaining that attempts to distort history would not succeed as “history is an open book, and the future will judge impartially.”
After garlanding a statue of Biju inside the assembly premises, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi acknowledged Biju Babu’s contribution to Odisha, particularly his contribution to industrialisation in the state. Panchayatiraj and rural development minister Rabi Narayan Naik said there is no intention of diminishing Biju Patnaik’s legacy and the govt will continue to honour his contributions to the state.
Stating that Biju Patnaik’s efforts in strengthening the panchayat system remain undisputed and worthy of respect, Naik criticised the BJD saying, “While Biju Babu worked to empower panchayats, the BJD has systematically weakened grassroots democracy. The public’s anger is directed at the BJD’s governance, not at Biju Patnaik’s legacy.”