BJD Condemns BJP Govt’s Plan to Rename Biju Patnaik Sports Award

Bhubaneswar: The opposition Biju Janata Dal has strongly condemned the Mohan Majhi-led BJP government’s move to rename the Biju Patnaik Sports Award as Odisha Rajya Krida Samman.

The BJD has accused the BJP of resorting to narrow politics.

BJD spokesperson and Nayagarh MLA Arun Sahoo said that Biju Patnaik was a legendary figure in Indian politics. The BJP government has changed the State sports award that was previously conferred in the honour of the legendary leader and the freedom fighter Biju Patnaik. This decision shows BJP’s narrow political perspective, the senior BJD leader said while urging the saffron party to refrain from engaging such type of politics.

What will the BJP government gain by removing the name of Biju Patnaik, who is a revered figure in Odisha and respected by all political parties, asked the BJD MLA.

Biju Patnaik worked alongside the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee and made significant contributions to the Indian freedom struggle, the BJD spokesperson added.

The BJP government has decided to change the Biju Patnaik Sports Award as Odisha Rajya Krida Samman.

Notably, the Sports and Youth Services Department of Odisha instituted the Biju Patnaik Sports Award in 2001-2002.

The award is presented on the occasion of National Sports Day on August 29, in four different categories – outstanding performance in sports and games, lifetime achievement in the promotion of sports and games, excellence in coaching and excellence in sports journalism.