With the Chief Minister not taking any step to implement the Orissa Official languages Act, 1954, the Odia Bhasa Sangram Samiti, a forum of language lovers and organisations, on Monday threatened to go on a hunger strike from July 1.“We would sit in hunger strike at Mahatma Gandhi Marg in front of the Assembly and at all district headquarters till strict enforcement of the Orissa Official languages Act 1954,” said Samiti convenor Sankarsan Parida.
People from different walks of life, organisations and leaders across the party lines would participate in the strike to press the demand, said Parida at a Press conference.“We have given enough time to the Chief Minister and the State Government to use Odia as official language in the Government correspondences, but in vain. People from different walks of life, organisations and leaders across the party lines would participate in the strike to press the demand,” said Parida.
He added that many Odia organisations outside the State have also given their consent to participate in the proposed indefinite dharna in front of the State Assembly.The Samiti has been demanding use of Odia as official language in the Government correspondences and Odia medium teaching at least up to secondary level.Notably, Samiti joint convenor Gajanan Mishra, Subrat Prusty and Preti Nayak were present at the Press conference.
