Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday greeted chief minister Naveen Patnaik on the latter’s 71 birthday. The chief minister, however, did not celebrate his birthday as a mark of respect to the martyred jawans.
The prime minister took it to social media to wish Naveen on his birthday. “Birthday wishes to Odisha CM Shri Naveen Patnaik. Praying for his long and healthy life. @Naveen_Odisha,” Modi tweeted. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee also wished Patnaik through social media.
Several other national and state-level leaders as well as politicians from Congress and BJP conveyed their wishes to Patnaik.
However, the four-time CM did not celebrate his birthday as a mark of respect to jawans who laid down their lives fighting against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.
He had Saturday appealed to BJD workers and leaders not to organise any celebrations on his birthday. He had also requested them not to visit Navin Niwas to greet him on the occasion.
This is not the first time the CM has decided against celebrating his birthday.
Last year, too, he did not celebrate his birthday following a mishap where 11 students were injured after a gas balloon cylinder burst in a party procession.
He did not celebrate his birthday in 2011, 2013 and 2014 due to natural calamities like floods, cyclones Phailin and Hudhud.
Patnaik was born in Cuttack October 16, 1946.
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