Bhubaneswar, August 15: Political parties across Odisha commemorated the 79th Independence Day with flag hoisting ceremonies, patriotic fervor, and speeches reflecting both pride and political rhetoric.
At the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) headquarters, Shankha Bhawan, senior vice president Debi Prasad Mishra unfurled the national flag. The ceremony witnessed the presence of key party figures including Ashok Panda, Bhubaneswar District President; Sulochana Das, Mayor of Bhubaneswar; Ananta Narayan Jena, MLA; and senior leader Pradeep Amat, alongside a large gathering of party workers.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also observed the occasion at its state headquarters. State president Manmohan Samal hoisted the tricolour in the presence of party leaders and karyakartas. Addressing the gathering after the national anthem, Samal paid homage to freedom fighters and emphasized the need to work towards building a “developed Odisha.” He highlighted the significant yet often underappreciated role Odisha played in India’s freedom movement and called the day a moment to take renewed pledges for the state's progress.
The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) marked the day with a ceremony at Congress Bhavan, where PCC president Bhakta Charan Das led the flag hoisting. Addressing party members after the national anthem, Das used the platform to launch a scathing critique of both the central and state governments. He accused them of “looting the nation,” undermining democratic institutions, and coming to power through electoral malpractice.
