COVID-19 situation: Naveen Patnaik not to celebrate birthday
Bhubaneswar, Oct 16: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has decided not to celebrate his birthday on Friday in view of the prevailing COVID-19 situation in the state, a CMO statement said.
Odisha has reported 2,62,011 coronavirus cases, while 1,089 patients have succumbed to the infection so far.
Patnaik urged his supporters, well-wishers and BJD activists not to visit his residence, Naveen Nivas, and instead help the needy and donate blood and plasma on the occasion.
He said the people are passing through a difficult situation for the last eight months due to the pandemic.
As Naveen Patnaik turns 74, here is a look at how he continues to win hearts in Odisha
"I
am
always
indebted
to
the
love
and
good
wishes
of
the
people
of
Odisha,"
he
said.
This
will
be
the
third
consecutive
year
the
BJD
supremo
will
give
his
birthday
celebrations
a
miss.
He had chosen not to celebrate his birthday last year due to Cyclone Fani and in 2018 owing to Cyclone Titli. Both the storms had battered Odisha.
The chief minister had also given his birthday celebrations a miss in 2016 as a mark of solidarity with the jawans killed in the Uri terror attack and in 2013 and 2014 when Odisha and other parts of the country were hit by cyclonic storms Phailin and Hudhud respectively.