Chandikhole: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his effort to make India the third largest economy of the world.
Shri Patnaik said this while speaking at the function where the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 19,600 crore at Chandikhole.
Addressing the occasion, the Chief Minister said, “Prime Minister has set a new direction for India. He is taking India on an accelerated drive to make it an economic powerhouse. India is now the 5th largest economy and is marching forward to be the number 3 in a few years.”
Shri Patnaik thanked the Prime Minister for his focus on the development of Odisha and said it is a matter of pride that the PM has launched several projects for Odisha today.
The Chief Minister said that today Odisha is going to become a major manufacturing hub of eastern India. Today there has been significant transformation in Odisha in the field of infrastructure development both in social and physical infrastructure, he said.
The CM pointed out that Odisha today is the top second State in the field of capital investment. Mission Shakti women are coming forward to become entrepreneurs, he added.
With the blessings of the Lord and the good wishes and cooperation of crores of Jagannath lovers, the Jagannath temple Parikrama Project was inaugurated. Similarly, the Samalei project, development of Samaleswari temple in Sambalpur, has also been launched. The transformation work of Maa Biraja’s temple is going on.
“Development has given a new identity to Odisha today. Still much more work to be done,” he added.
He sought the Prime Minister’s support in the endeavour of 4.5 crore people of Odisha.
The Chief Minister took the opportunity to pay his tributes to the great statesman and visionary leader Biju Patnaik on his birth anniversary.
“Biju Babu was a visionary leader. He had made a significant contribution to the country’s freedom struggle and the freedom struggle of foreign nations. He has worked all his life for the development of Odisha and the development of the Odia race,” he said.
He pointed out that in 1990, Biju Babu thought of making Kalinga Nagar an industrial hub. “Today, Kalinga Nagar has become the steel hub of the country. Not only Odisha, the entire country is benefiting from it.”
During his speech, the Prime Minister addressed Naveen as ‘Lokpriya’ (popular) Chief Minister of Odisha.
The two top leaders of BJP and BJD were seen greeting each other with a nice gesture and chat for a small moment at the stage. The PM was seen saying something to Naveen, while holding his hands tightly.
While there was a speculation that PM Modi may announce Bharat Ratna for Biju Patnaik on his birth anniversary today. However, nothing like this happened during the PM’s visit.
