BJD slams Odisha Govt over Kedar Mishra lecture cancellation
Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has strongly condemned the Odisha Government over the cancellation of a lecture by senior journalist and poet Kedar Mishra at Banaras Hindu University (BHU).
The lecture, scheduled under the Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja Odia Chair, was meant to highlight the works of the revered Odia poet Santha Kabi Bhima Bhoi.
BJD spokesperson Dr Lenin Mohanty alleged that the Odisha BJP government, in coordination with BJP leaders in Uttar Pradesh, pressured BHU to cancel the program.
He described the move as an insult to Odia literature and culture, undermining the very slogan of Odia Asmita that the BJP had previously championed.
“The cancellation of Kedar Mishra’s lecture is not just a denial of academic freedom but also a direct affront to Odia pride,” Mohanty said.
He urged the government to refrain from politicising literature and to respect the contributions of Odia literary figures.
The incident has sparked widespread debate, with intellectuals and cultural activists expressing concern over the growing political interference in academic and literary platforms.
