BJD holds a mask protest against Centre for not recognizing ‘1817 Paika Rebellion’ as ‘first War of Independence’. Severall of the ruling party wearing mask of freedom fighter Jayi Rajguru were sloganeering against Centre. CM Naveen Patnaik had earlier urged the Centre to declare ‘Paika Rebellion’ as the first War of Independence. Citing the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) comments, Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy recently said in Rajya Sabha that the Paika rebellion cannot be called the first War of Independence.