Demanding inclusion of Odia language as a medium of examination in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention in the issue.
"I am constrained to seek your personal intervention in the matter for incorporating Odia as a medium of examination for the ensuing NEET in the larger interest of students of my state," Patnaik wrote to Modi.
Patnaik said six regional languages besides Hindi and English have been included as a medium of examination for NEET from the 2017-18 academic year, while "Odia language as a medium of examination for the students of Odisha, who will be appearing for the said test, has been conspicuously left out".
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"This... Will put students from Odisha, who have studied in Odia, at a great disadvantage," Patnaik said adding the decision of the Centre would provide a competitive advantage to students reading in six regional languages.
Patnaik also mentioned that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has not sought Odia as an option while taking views of the state government on the medium of language to be adopted for the students of Odisha.
"This has now created widespread resentment among the students of Odisha who will be appearing for the prestigious NEET in the academic year 2017-18 and onwards," Patnaik pointed out.
Meanwhile, the students' wing of the ruling BJD staged a dharna in front of the Raj Bhavan here demanding inclusion of Odia as a medium at the NEET.
Patnaik alleged that Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman
Singh, during his election campaign in Odisha, had tried to "misguide" the people by giving false and fabricated information.
"Singh had suppressed the fact that his state is taking water of Mahanadi illegally and arbitrarily violating the basic norms of a federal set up with active partnership of the central government, which will seriously jeopardise the interest of the people of Odisha in future," he said adding, BJD's fight for Mahanadi was beyond political and electoral interest and it would continue.
Patnaik said issues like the Mahanadi dispute and the Polavaram project need to be raised in the Assembly.
"We should leave no stones unturned to counter the false, baseless and frivolous allegations of the Opposition on the floor of the House. As most of the Government of India schemes are now at 60 per cent to 40 per cent sharing basis, we have huge challenges ahead. But, we shall continue to focus on our priority areas and make adequate provision of funds for all the schemes that are important for the people of Odisha," Patnaik said.
The Chief Minister, however, refused to comment on the outcome of the Panchayat elections in public.
"It would not be appropriate for the Chief Minister to make a statement on the polls at this time. I will make my statement on 25th of this month after the results are declared officially," Patnaik told reporters outside the Assembly.
On the budget session, he said "It is an important session and we are open to all discussions with the Opposition in matters relating to the budget.
