Alter COVID-19 Shutdown Days In Sambalpur: BJP MLAs To Odisha CM

Sambalpur: BJP's Sambalpur MLA, Jaya Narayan Mishra has urged Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to postpone/pre-pone COVID-19 shutdown on account of Nua Khai festival.

In a letter, the Sambalpur MLA along with his Rengali counterpart, Nauri Nayak has requested Odisha government to change the shutdown dates either by postponing or enforcing it couple of days ahead of the announced schedule.

In his letter, Jaya Narayan Mishra wrote, “On behalf of the people of Sambalpur, Rengali and entire Western Odisha we are here to request you that “Nua Khai” is our traditional agricultural festival and is being observed by the people of “Paschim Odisha.”

Unfortunately, the shutdown announced by the district administration for Covid-19 pandemic is coinciding with festival dates, i.e. 22nd & 23rd August 2020."

Since the festival is an integral part of the emotional and traditional values for the people of Western Odisha, people staying away return to their native place to celebrate the festival.

“Therefore, considering the need of the people, we request you to kindly change the shutdown dates and either it may be postponed or maybe implemented two days before,” (sic) the BJP MLAs wrote.

(Edited By Bikram Keshari Jena)

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