But here at Berhampur in Orissa, a rickshaw puller had the rare honour to hoist the flag at a mass agitation spot while a minister, who was also the king of the erstwhile princely state hoisted the flag at Berhampur stadium.

Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Prabin Bhanja Deo had graced the occasion on behalf of the state at Berhampur stadium on the occasion of Republic Day. Bhanja Deo after hoisting the flag had addressed the gathering appealing the citizens to be a part of the development process in the state.

He said that Ganjam is known for her cultural heritage in the country. Sons of the soil of Ganjam, from the language movement to the freedom movement, had played a pioneering role. Even now, the sons of the soil are brining laurel in various fields like sports, dance, weaving of patta sarees and education, for the state as well as for the country. During the regime of Naveen Patnaik, with transparent administration, progress of the state could be achieved, said Bhanja Deo while adding that if common man joins hands in development process, progress of the state would be achieved.

On the other hand, a rickshaw puller was chosen by the Nagarika Kriyanusthan Committee that observed the Republic Day. Notably, the citizens committee, Berhampur Nagarika Mancha and Rushikulya Banchao Mancha have been agitating since Netajee Jayanti in front of RDC office, demanding fund for the Dakshinpur-Janibil pipe-line project.

Narasingh Das, a rickshaw puller who had brought professor Prahallad Panda of the Ctitizens’ committee to the agitating spot on the Republic Day hoisted the national flag in the presence of hundreds of people including former deputy speaker of Orissa Assembly Ram Chandra Panda.

Interestingly, Narasingh - the rickshaw puller after hoisting the national flag, stated that he was perhaps a minister in his last life and was pulling the rickshaw in present life because he siphoned huge sum of money as a minister during his previous life.