Bijayananda Patnaik popularly known as Biju Patnaik, was considered to be a great visionary leader, aviator, freedom fighter, industrialist & tallest leader of modern Odisha. His legacy and his ideals continue to inspire politicians in Odisha. The tall man of Odisha died on 17 April 1997. Today marks his death anniversary, which is observed throughout Odisha and all Odias across the globe. But due to coronavirus outbreak, the BJD party supremo, Naveen Patnaik requested all the party members to stay at home and pay floral tributes at respective residence due to the coronavirus outbreak. Hence, the death anniversary of Biju Patnaik will be observed subdued manner across Odisha today.
Naveen Patnaik tweeted the following for Biju Babu:
“ସବୁବେଳେ ଲୋକଙ୍କ ସହ ରହିବା ଏବଂ ପ୍ରତିଟି ଲୋକର କଲ୍ୟାଣ ଓ ଉନ୍ନତି ପାଇଁ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରିବା ବିଜୁ ବାବୁଙ୍କ ମନ୍ତ୍ର ଥିଲା; ଯାହା ଲୋକଙ୍କ ସେବା ପାଇଁ ସର୍ବଦା ଆମକୁ ଅନୁପ୍ରାଣିତ କରିଆସିଛି। ସେହି ମହାନ ପୁଣ୍ୟାତ୍ମା, ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ବରପୁତ୍ର, ମହାନ ଜନନାୟକ ବିଜୁ ପଟ୍ଟନାୟକଙ୍କ ତିରୋଧାନ ଦିବସରେ ବିନମ୍ର ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାଞ୍ଜଳି ଜଣାଉଛି।“
As per the CM’s direction everyone is asked to refrain from commemorative functions. Biju Patnaik, the father of CM Naveen Patnaik was a daredevil pilot and the former CM of Odisha. He passed away due to cardiac arrest.
Other leaders like Achyuta Samanta, Ganeshi Lal & Dharmendra Pradhan paid their tributes to the TALL-MAN of Odisha!