India, March 21 -- Odia Language, Literature & Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj today cleared an air on according state language status to Koshali dialect.

Answring to an unstarred question asked by BJD MLA Prasanna Acharya in Assembly, the Minister informed the House that the government is yet to receive any proposal demanding state language status to Koshali dialect.

Expressing displeasure over the Minister's reply, the BJP MLA Jayanarayan Mishra, who represents Sambalpur Assesmbly Constituency in Odisha Legislative Assembly, targeted the government over the 'long-standing' demand of western Odisha people.

"The Minister is not aware of the fact that Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had proposed the Centre for inclusion of S...