Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Tuesday paid tribute to former Odisha Chief Minister Biju Patnaik on his birth anniversary.
PM Modi said that Biju Patnaik’s visionary leadership and indomitable spirit continue to inspire generations.
Modi is scheduled to visit Odisha’s Chandikhole in Jajpur district later in the day to unveil development projects worth over Rs 19,600 crore.
“I pay homage to the legendary Biju Patnaik Ji on his birth anniversary. His visionary leadership and indomitable spirit continue to inspire generations. His contributions to our nation and his unwavering commitment to development are exemplary,” the prime minister said in a post on X.
“Today, on this special day, I look forward to being among the people of Odisha to inaugurate various projects in Chandikhole. I will also address a @BJP4Odisha public meeting,” he added.
I pay homage to the legendary Biju Patnaik Ji on his birth anniversary. His visionary leadership and indomitable spirit continue to inspire generations. His contributions to our nation and his unwavering commitment to development are exemplary.
Today, on this special day, I look…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 5, 2024
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik took it to X (formerly Twitter) to say, “On the birth anniversary of Biju Patnaik, the architect of modern Odisha, the great freedom fighter and former chief minister, I pay my tributes. The map he drew to strengthen the development of people from all sections of the society is still showing us the way. Let us further glorify the identity of Odia nationalism by remembering his contribution. Let’s further strengthen the resolve of the formation of a new Odisha.”
ଆଧୁନିକ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ନିର୍ମାତା, ମହାନ ସ୍ୱାଧୀନତା ସଂଗ୍ରାମୀ ତଥା ପୂର୍ବତନ ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ବିଜୁ ପଟ୍ଟନାୟକଙ୍କ ଜୟନ୍ତୀରେ ମୋର ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାଞ୍ଜଳି ଜଣାଉଛି। ସମାଜର ସବୁ ବର୍ଗର ଲୋକଙ୍କୁ ନେଇ ବିକାଶକୁ ବଳିଷ୍ଠ କରିବା ଲାଗି ସେ ଆଙ୍କିଥିବା ନକ୍ସା ଏବେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଆମକୁ ବାଟ ଦେଖାଉଛି। ଆସନ୍ତୁ ସେହି ବିକାଶ ପୁରୁଷଙ୍କ ଅବଦାନକୁ ମନେ ପକାଇ ଓଡ଼ିଆ… pic.twitter.com/XuOlx2eDqm
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) March 5, 2024
It can be mentioned here that, Modi is slated to address a rally of the BJP in Jajpur, considered a stronghold of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD).
The BJD has also been demanding Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian award, for Biju Patnaik, who was the chief minister of Odisha from 1961-63 and 1990-95.
Patnaik was also an accomplished pilot, who had famously rescued former Indonesian prime minister Sutan Sjahrir in a Dakota aircraft from Dutch colonisers in 1947.
The Indonesian government had twice conferred Biju Patnaik with ‘Bhumiputra’, its highest civilian award, for his daredevil mission.
PNN & Agencies
