All Left parties in Odisha on Tuesday (July 28, 2026) condemned the Mohan Charan Majhi government’s decision to rename the Phulbani Government Medical College and Hospital in Kandhamal district after late Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, a veteran Sangh Parivar ideologue whose killing by CPI (Maoist) in 2008 had triggered one of the worst episodes of anti-Christian violence in the State.

In a joint statement, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India (CPI), CPI (ML)-Liberation, and the All India Forward Bloc said said a government medical college and hospital is a public service institution dedicated to people of all religions, castes, communities, and classes and it should be named after a personality who commands universal respect and whose life embodies the ideals of humanity, social harmony, and public welfare.

“Associating the name of Laxmanananda Saraswati with a government institution is likely to rekindle memories of long-standing communal tensions in Kandhamal and other parts of Odisha. There have been serious social and political controversies surrounding his activities for many years,” CPI (M) State secretary Suresh Panigrahi said.

Mr. Panigrahi further said, “In public perception, the Sangh Parivar veteran has been linked with issues such as religious polarisation, communal tensions, and social divisions in Kandhamal. Naming a government medical college after such a controversial figure runs contrary to secular constitutional values, threatens social harmony, and represents an attempt to use history for political purposes.”

The Left parties also raised serious concerns over the government’s approval of a grant of ₹13 crore for Laxmanananda’s Ashram, school, and girls’ hostel. They alleged that using public funds to promote any particular ideological or communal agenda goes against the principles of a democratic and secular system of governance, as enshrined in the Constitution, he pointed out

The parties demanded that the institution be named after tribal freedom fighter Chakra Bisoyi.

“Chakra Bisoyi is one of the greatest heroes of Odisha’s freedom struggle. He organised the Kandha tribal community of the Ghumusar-Kandhamal region and led a prolonged armed guerrilla struggle against British colonial rule. He dedicated his life to protecting his land, forests, water, culture, and self-respect. His struggle is not only that of the tribal community but also an unforgettable chapter in the glorious history of Odisha’s freedom movement,” they said.

Published - July 28, 2026 06:17 pm IST