Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Thursday urged the central government to accord classical language status to Odia, the state's official language.
In a letter to Culture Minister Chandresh Kumar Katoch, the chief minister urged her to take steps for consideration of the proposal by the union cabinet.
"I am given to understand that the proposal has not yet been placed before the union cabinet," Patnaik said in the letter.
"Since more than 40 million citizens of Odisha are looking forward to the approval of this proposal by the central government, I would once again request you to take steps for expediting its consideration by the union cabinet," Patnaik said.
