Orissa: Removal of Mayurbhanj Maharaja statue

Baripada, May 22: The Orissa Government's decision to remove the statue of Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanj Deo from Power House Chhak in Bhubaneswar has caused resentment among the people in Baripada.

Several organisations sent protest telegrams to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Culture Minister S N Patra urging them to withdraw the decision.

Oriya Jagarana Mancha's president Jagat Bandhu Acharya, Lawyers' Council for Development of Mayurbhanj president Ambuja Prusty, Yuva Sahityika Surakshya Parishad chief Gopal Krushna Hatial in their separate statement pointed out that it would be a dishonour to the "Maker of modern Orissa" if the statue was removed by the government.

Such action would hurt the sentiments of the people of Mayurbhanj, they said adding that the government should hold responsible for any retaliatory action if the statue was removed from that site.

Several other institutions of the district also criticised the government's move.

Meanwhile, the Utkal Sammilani has demanded the installation of life-size statues of Sriramchandra and other sons of Orissa at the Utkal Sammilani Marg and Power House Chhak in the state capital.

UNI