BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday unveiled a logo of Biju Patnaik birth centenary celebration which will be a year-long affair beginning from March 5.
The State Government has decided to celebrate the birth centenary of the former chief minister at State and national levels. The celebration would begin from March 5, Biju Patnaik’s birth anniversary, a Government release said.
Describing Biju Babu as a legendary leader, the Chief Minister said he was beyond political boundaries and people cutting across party lines should celebrate the ideals of the great son of the soil who always fought for Odia pride.
“The birth centenary should be to highlight the multifaceted aspect of Biju Babu’s personality to inspire people of the State to move forward and build a developed, prosperous and progressive Odisha,” Naveen said while unveiling the logo. The ruling party has formed five committees for the successful year-long birth anniversary celebration.
It has been decided to organise the State level function at Janata Maidan on March 5, which is being observed in the State as Panchayati Raj Divas.
On the other hand, Cooperation Minister Damodar Rout, who has been made a member of the Birth Centenary Committee headed by former minister Bed Prakash Agarwal, made his displeasure over the composition of the committees public. Though Rout and Agarwal were seen engaged in heated arguments, they played down the issue.
Sources in the BJD said Agarwal’s appointment as the convenor of Biju Birth Centenary Committee has not gone down well with Rout.