Bhubaneswar, October 15: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has decided not to celebrate his birthday on Saturday (October 16) in view of the prevailing COVID-19 situation in the State, a CMO statement said.
Odisha has reported 10,34,276 coronavirus cases, while 8,279 patients have succumbed to the infection so far.
Patnaik urged his supporters, well-wishers and BJD leaders and activists not to visit his residence, Naveen Niwas, and instead help the needy and donate blood on the occasion.
“People are passing through a difficult situation for the last one and half a year due to the pandemic. So, I urge the well-wishers and BJD leaders and activists not to visit his residence, Naveen Niwas, and instead help the needy and donate blood on the occasion,” said he.
I am always indebted to the love and good wishes of the people of Odisha, said he.
This will be the fourth consecutive year the ruling BJD supremo will give his birthday celebrations a miss.
He had chosen not to celebrate his birthday last year due to COVID-19, Cyclone Fani in 2019 and in 2018 owing to Cyclone Titli. Both the storms had battered Odisha severely.
Chief Minister Patnaik 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.
