OSOU pioneers global poetry gathering

Odisha State Open University (OSOU) marked World Poetry Day 2025 with a Virtual Poetry Meet, bringing together eminent poets from across the globe to celebrate the power of poetry in fostering peace and inclusion.

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

BJD President Naveen Patnaik, who deputed two party leaders to the Fair Delimitation meeting convened by Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin in Chennai on Saturday, addressed the gathering virtually, expressing concerns shared by several states.

He emphasized that states like Odisha, which have successfully reduced population growth rates through years of dedicated efforts, should not face disincentives. "Population control has been a key national agenda for development, with both the Union Government and states taking concerted measures to achieve it," he said.

States such as Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, West Bengal, Punjab, and Odisha have made significant strides in stabilizing population growth. Patnaik pointed out that had these states not succeeded, India would have faced a population explosion, which could have hampered developmental progress.

He argued that basing delimitation solely on population figures would be unfair to states that have actively worked to curb population growth in alignment with national priorities. "Odisha has significantly reduced its fertility rates over the years. If the projected 2026 population figures are used for delimitation, we risk losing seats in both the Lok Sabha and the State Assembly," he warned.

Patnaik reaffirmed the BJD's commitment to safeguarding Odisha's interests, stating that population should not be the sole criterion for determining representation in India's highest legislative bodies.

He urged the Union Government to initiate detailed discussions with all political parties to address concerns and ensure a fair and transparent delimitation process.