Dirty politics delays Veer Surendra Sai statue unveiling

Sambalpur (Odisha): Even though four years have elapsed, a full-fledged statue of
legendary freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai has not been unveiled due to difference
of opinion between two political parties here.

The construction work of the statue was completed in
2010.

As per reports, implementing a decision taken at a Rehabilitation and Peripheral
Development and Advisiory Committee (RPDAC) meeting in 2009, the Bhushan
Company has erected the statue on SH 10 at Khinda Chowk nearer to his birth
place, 40 km from Sambalpur and 10 km from Jharsuguda, at an expenditure of Rs
25 lakh.

While it was decided the statue would be unveiled on
January 23, 2014, his birthday, it was surprisingly cancelled at the eleventh
hour.

The locals have been quite upset over the neglect. 

Former Jharsuguda MLA and Western Odisha Development
Council (WODC) Chairman Kishore Mohanty said the statue would be unveiled on 23
January 2015. “Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has finalized the date and there
would be no deviation this time,” Mohanty said.