BHUBANESWAR: Several prominent personalities, including senior Cabinet ministers, have mourned the death of Gyan Patnaik, mother of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Rural Development and Industries Minister Biswa Bhusan Harichandan said she had been the source of inspiration for her husband Biju Patnaik and he used to take her advice on crucial matters.
Condoling her death, Finance Minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadei said she was kind hearted and always wanted development of Orissa.
She was the source of inspiration for women of Orissa, said Panchayati Raj Minister Raghunath Mohanty.
Describing her as a woman of courage, former Union minister Dilip Ray said her death is a great loss for Orissa.
She involved herself in all the activities of Biju Patnaik for the development of Orissa and her death is a great loss for the State, said Excise Minister Debi Prasad Mishra. Works Minister AU Singhdeo also mourned her death while Urban Development Minister KV Singhdeo said in her death Orissa lost a great personality.
Biju Yuba Janata Dal convenor Sanjay Dasburma also mourned her death.
In a message, Fisheries Minister Golak Bihari Nayak termed Gyan Patnaik as an ideal woman. Minister of State for Steel and Mines Pradip Amat described her as a progressive woman. Minister of State for Labour and Employment Pradipta Kumar Naik expressed his heartfelt condolences on her death. The Minister of State for Commerce and Transport joined the mourners.
State unit president and secretary-general of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Bijay Mohapatra and Amar Prasad Satpathy said Gyan Patnaik was the inspiration behind Biju Patnaik’s success.