Odishatv Bureau

Bhubaneswar: The Paikas of Khurda will put forth their proposal before Centre to set up a 'Paika Academy' in State at a special function on July 20 in Delhi marking the 200th anniversary of Khurda Paika Rebellion.

"The Paikas will be felicitated at the function there. We will also reiterate our demand to set up a Paika Academy in Odisha," advisor of Kalinga Paika Association, Khurda, Prafulla Samantray told media while leaving for Delhi along with the descendants of the 150 martyrs of the great war against British.

The kin of Paika martyrs left for Delhi today to attend the event which will be inaugurated by President Pranab Mukherjee.

Senior BJP leaders Biswabhushan Harichandan and Prithivraj Harichandan met the delegation at the station before their departure.

"The gala celebration is a matter of pride for every Odia. The Odia Samaj in Delhi will also participate in the event there," Biswabhusan said.

Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, a member of the central committee set up to celebrate the 200 years of rebellion, had said earlier the commemoration  would be held across the country for a year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Odisha in April, felicitated the descendants of 16 families involved in the uprising. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also mentioned it in his Budget speech this year.

The Paika Rebellion was restricted to Odisha unlike the Revolt of 1857, which spread across the country. However, the rebellion never got its due recognition.

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