Odisha CM refrains from celebrating birthday; wishes pour in

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Oct 16:

Even though Odisha Chief Minister stayed away from celebrating his 71^st birthday today, several leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, wished him on the occasion.

Wishes poured in for the longest serving chief minister of Odisha where several political leaders took to micro-blogging site to convey their wishes.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to wish Naveen.

Birthday wishes to Odisha CM Shri Naveen Patnaik. Praying for his long and healthy life. @Naveen_Odisha

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 16, 2016

Union Minister for Urban Development, Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation, Information & Broadcasting M Venkaiah Naidu, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Union Minister of Food & Public Distribution, Consumer Affairs Ram Vilas Pawan, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Communications, Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways Manoj Sinha, MP and former Minister of Civil Aviation & Heavy Industries Praful Patel, Sarbananda Sonowal , Union Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan among others wished Naveen on his birthday.

Birthday Greetings to Odisha CM Shri @Naveen_Odisha. May he be blessed with long life with good health.

— M Venkaiah Naidu (@MVenkaiahNaidu) October 16, 2016

Birthday greetings to Shri Naveen Patnaik ji @Naveen_Odisha, Chief Minister,Govt. of Odisha. May god bless him with long life & good health.

— Dr Raman Singh (@drramansingh) October 16, 2016

ଓଡିଶା ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ନବୀନ ପଟ୍ଟନାୟକଙ୍କୁ ଜନ୍ମଦିନର ହାର୍ଦିକ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା । ଦୀର୍ଘ ଓ ନିରାମୟ ଜୀବନ କାମନା କରୁଛି । #HappyBirthday @Naveen_Odisha Babu.

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) October 16, 2016

Notably, the Chief Ministers has decided not to celebrate his 71^st birthday today as a mark of respect to the supreme sacrifices made by martyrs fighting against terrorists at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir recently.

“In memory of Amer sahids who made supreme sacrifices in fighting against terrorism the Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik decides not to celebrate his birthday this year which falls on tomorrow. The Chief Minister has also requested his well wishers neither to throng at Naveen Nivas nor organise any programme,” a communication issued by his office said.