Bhubaneswar: LoP and BJD Supremo Naveen Patnaik paid floral tributes to his father and former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik on his 109th birth anniversary today. Naveen Patnaik offered flowers to the idol of Biju Patnaik at the Forest park in Bhubaneswar. He was accompanied by many senior leaders of Biju Janta Dal (BJD) and Bhubaneswar mayor. Speaking at the outset, BJD leader Sanjay Das Burma said,”Biju Patnaik was instrumental in setting up the tri-level Panchayats in villages. He is also responsible behind the reservation of 33 per cent seats to women MLAs in the Constituent Assembly. To commemorate his contribution, Panchayati Raj Diwas was celebrated on his birthday, but the current government’s decision of withdrawing this day as Panchayat Raj Diwas is an insult to the great man.” He further condemned this decision of the Mohan Majhi government. He further raised a question on how his invitation for the birth anniversary celebrations of Biju Patnaik went viral on social media before reaching Naveen Niwas. On the other hand, Sulata Deo has condemned the beheading of Biju Patnaik’s idol in Mahanga. Along with his party members LoP Naveen Patnaik paid floral tribute to the legendary Bijayananda Patnaik fondly addressed as Biju Patnaik.
