Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has decided not to celebrate the birth centenary of Biju Patnaik along party lines but instead focus on spreading the message of courage, conviction and dedication of the legendary leader to everyone.
This decision was taken at the meeting of the Biju Patnaik birth centenary coordination committee chaired by senior BJD leader and Dhenkanal MP Tathagata Satpathy here Monday.
“As Biju Patnaik was not a leader of a single political party, we don’t want to confine the celebration to the party. We have decided to celebrate his birth centenary beyond party lines and political boundaries. We want to involve all those who have affection for Biju Babu,” Satpathy said after the meeting.
The party has also decided to spread the message of Biju Babu among farmers, youth and women during the year-long birth centenary celebrations.
“They (farmers, youth and women) are the driving force of the country and the message of Biju Patnaik’s contribution towards the development of Orissa must reach them,” he said.
The party would also initiate steps to celebrate the centenary in foreign countries, including Indonesia and Russia, where Biju was famous, the BJD leader said.
“We are also preparing a list of programmes to be taken up to celebrate the Biju centenary. After the approval of BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the programmes will be taken up,” he said.
Energy minister Pranab Prakash Das, health minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, law minister Arun Sahoo, higher education minister Pradeep Panigrahy, school and mass education minister Debi Prasad Mishra, Bhubaneswar mayor Ananta Narayan Jena, Pratap Jena and Kandhamal Lok Sabha MP Pratyusha Rajeshwari
were among those who attended the meeting.
