Odisha CM announces heritage village at birthplace of slain VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday announced plans to develop Gurujang, the birthplace of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader killed by left-wing extremists in 2008, into a 'Heritage Village' and transform the Gurujang Gram Panchayat into a 'Model Panchayat'. The announcement came during the birth centenary celebrations of Saraswati.
Addressing the gathering, Majhi described Saraswati as a 'great ideal' and a 'radiant guide of Sanatan Dharma', saying he devoted his life to serving tribal communities in the remote forests of Kandhamal. He established the Chakapada and Jalespata ashrams and a Kanya Gurukul to provide tribal girls with Sanskrit education and vocational training.
The Chief Minister said the state government has already renamed Phulbani Government Medical College as Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati Medical College. He also announced Rs 13 crore from the Chief Minister's Special Assistance fund for the development and heritage conservation of Jalespata Ashram, including a 300-seat girls' hostel, heritage-site conservation, and a river-lift drinking water project.
Recalling the killing of Saraswati on the night of Janmashtami in 2008, which triggered one of the worst episodes of communal violence in Kandhamal district, Majhi criticised the then government for alleged negligence and appeasement politics. He alleged that the disappearance of files related to the Justice A.S. Naidu Commission, which investigated the murder, was a 'deliberate conspiracy' to protect the perpetrators, and assured that 'every drop of Swamiji's blood would receive justice'.
Majhi also invoked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's respect for Saraswati, linking his philosophy of 'Antyodaya' to Modi's vision of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. He called upon the younger generation to reconnect with their cultural roots and participate in nation-building.
The event was attended by Odisha Legislative Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy, former Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and other leaders. Pradhan expressed gratitude for the declaration of Gurujang as a heritage village.
However, the decision to name the medical college after Saraswati has drawn criticism from left parties. In a joint statement, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India, CPI (ML)-Liberation, and the All India Forward Bloc said a government medical institution should be named after a person who commands universal respect. They described Saraswati as a 'divisive person' and expressed concern that the naming would rekindle memories of the communal violence in Kandhamal.
The move highlights the political significance of Saraswati's legacy in Odisha, where the BJP has sought to consolidate support among Hindu voters. The development of his birthplace is likely to further polarise opinions in a region still recovering from the 2008 riots.
