Members seek Oriya as 2nd Language in Jharkhand

BHUBANESWAR: Several BJD and NCP members on Friday demanded that a resolution be brought in the Assembly requesting the Jharkhand government to give second language status to Oriya.  Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Amar Prasad Satpathy (NCP) referred to the dharna by the Utkal Samaj members to draw attention to the move by the Jharkhand government to confer the second language status to Bengali and Santhali. The Utkal Samaj has submitted memorandum in this regard to Speaker Pradip Amat and other members.  Satpathy alleged that the titles of Oriya people have been changed in the census so as to reduce their number. He demanded that the Lingusitic Minority Committee, headed by the Speaker, should take up the matter with the Jharkhand government.  Damodar Rout (BJD) also expressed concern over the move of the Jharkhand government. Changing the title of Oriya people in the census is a serious matter, Rout said and added that the House should take up the matter. He said the matter should be taken up with the Jharkhand government and resolved through talks.  Several other BJD members also raised the issue and demanded that a resolution be passed in the House. They said the Jharkhand government should be requested to accord second language status to Oriya as 90 per cent people of Sareikela and Kharasuan area in Singhbhum district are Oriya. Besides, Oriyas have a large population in the Jharkhand state, they said.