BJD to Protest on March 6 Against BJP's Panchayati Raj Diwas Decision

Synopsis

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) announced state-wide protests on March 6 against the Odisha government's decision to observe Panchayati Raj Divas on April 24, instead of the traditional March 5. Senior party leader Sanjay Das Burma emphasized the importance of Biju Patnaik's contributions to the Panchayati Raj system during this controversy.

Key Takeaways

BJD protests scheduled for March 6.
March 5 commemorates Biju Patnaik's birth anniversary.
BJP's decision to shift Panchayati Raj Divas criticized.
Panchayati Raj system revolutionary steps led by Biju Patnaik.
Call for participation from all Odisha residents.

Bhubaneswar, March 4 (NationPress) In light of the uproar surrounding the Odisha government’s decision to change the date of the Panchayati Raj Divas celebration, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) declared its plan to conduct protests throughout the state on March 6 against this decision.

During a press briefing on Tuesday, senior party member Sanjay Das Burma stated: “Honoring the remarkable contributions of Biju Patnaik to the Panchayati Raj system, the Panchayati Raj Diwas has traditionally been celebrated on his birth anniversary, which falls on March 5 every year.”

Burma condemned the ruling BJP government’s choice to celebrate the Panchayati Raj Diwas on April 24 instead of March 5.

“Tomorrow, we will honor the auspicious birth anniversary of Biju Patnaik, as is customary for the BJD. However, on March 6, we will rally across the state to protest the government’s unconstitutional actions,” he added.

Burma called upon all residents of Odisha, including youth, students, and women, to join the BJD in protesting against what he described as the deceit by the state government regarding Biju Patnaik's birth anniversary.

He emphasized Patnaik’s significant role in establishing the Panchayati Raj system, noting that he was not just the first to implement the three-tier system but also the first in India to advocate for ‘Gaon Ku Kama and Maa Ku Samman’ (job availability in villages and respect for women).

Moreover, he mentioned that Patnaik was pioneering in ensuring a 33 percent reservation for women in the Panchayati Raj framework.

Burma asserted that Biju Babu believed Odisha, and India as a whole, could not progress without empowering women and including them in village-level policy-making.

He further noted that for the past three decades, beginning in 1991, Patnaik's birth anniversary on March 5 has been recognized as Panchayati Raj Divas. Biju Babu is celebrated as the architect of the three-tier Panchayati Raj system in Odisha.

He continued by stating that just a year after Patnaik introduced the Panchayati Raj system in Odisha, the central government enacted the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments in 1992, which formalized the Panchayati Raj system nationwide.

He remarked that while the Union government has observed Panchayati Raj Day on April 24 since 2010, the Odisha government has consistently celebrated Panchayati Raj Divas for the past thirty years.