Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Sept 24: Controversial Union minister Mahesh Sharma is expected to visit the state capital Friday to take part in the mega convention of Federation of Hotel and Restaurants Association of India (FHRAI).
Sharma, the Union minister of state for tourism and culture, was recently in the news for saying in a controversial statement that former President APJ Abdul Kalam was a patriot despite being a Muslim. Sharma drew flak from various quarters, especially from the netizens, who questioned his rationality. He was also criticised by social activists and netizens for saying that “girls wanting a night out is not part of Indian culture”.
The 56-year-old BJP leader, described on his Lok Sabha webpage as “a staunch follower of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) since childhood”, has been in the limelight for his religious and patriarchal views.
Sharma will arrive in the city airport at around 6pm and will return to New Delhi at around 9pm after attending the FHRAI national convention. His will also be accompanied by Union minister for tribal affairs, Jual Oram.
The FHRAI national convention will also be attended, among others, by CM Naveen Patnaik, state school and mass education minister Debi Prasad Mishra, Karnataka tourism minister R V Deshpande and the state tourism minister Ashok Chandra Panda.
The technical sessions will be inaugurated by state chief secretary G C Pati at 2.30pm. The formal inaugural ceremony will be held from 5 pm onwards, said the organisers.
