Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], March 7 (ANI): Members of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) staged a protest outside the Odisha Assembly on Friday against the state government's decision to change the date of Panchayati Raj Diwas from March 5 to April 24.

The state's BJP government on Monday said that it will observe March 5 as the former CM's birth anniversary and not as 'Panchayati Raj Day,' as has been celebrated for decades. Further, there would be no government holiday on March 5, according to a statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO).

Though March 5 has been celebrated as 'Panchayati Raj Divas' in Odisha every year, this time, the day will be observed on April 24, in alignment with the national observance, it said.

'Odisha Government will no more observe Panchayati Raj Divas on March 5, Which Is Biju Babu's Birthday. Instead, Panchayati Raj Divas will be observed on April 24. The new date was approved by the CM today. March 5 is the birth anniversary of Odisha's legendary leader Biju Patnaik. The state BJP government has decided to celebrate March 5 as the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik and not as 'Panchayati Raj Day'. Besides that, the Odisha government has also cancelled the holiday on that day,' said the CMO in a statement.

The move was criticised by former CM Naveen Patnaik who said that BJP could not take away the love that the people have for Biju Babu.

'You can change the names of awards, deface his statues, change the dates, but you cannot take away the love and affection that the people of Odisha have for Biju Babu. He lives in the people's hearts. These incidents have only increased people's love and respect for Biju Babu. Now, they are trying to change the name of Biju Patnaik International Airport. Can you erase the history that Biju Babu is a freedom fighter and was in jail for India's Independence? From how many projects will you erase his legacy?' Naveen Patnaik said.

The Congress had also criticised the Odisha government after it announced to change the date of Panchayati Raj Day from March 5 to April 24. Odisha Congress President Bhakta Charan Das accused the state's BJP government of 'disrespecting' Odisha's founder Madhu Babu and former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik. (ANI)