Sharmili Mallick

Bhubaneswar: Odisha on Friday paid homage to the iconic and two of the most influential and transformative leaders Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister of the country Lal Bahadur Shastri on their 151st and 116th birth anniversaries, respectively.

A series of events were organised at several places of the State adhering to Covid-19 guidelines.

The 19 Battalion of CRPF organised a five-kilometre marathon—“CRPF- FIT Indian Freedom Run”--in Rourkela city to spread health awareness amid the Covid-19 pandemic to commemorate the birth anniversary of Bapu.

[caption id="attachment_480055" align="aligncenter" width="750"]marathon in Rourkela on Gandhi Jayanti DIG (Western Range) Kabita Jalan flags off five-kilometre —“CRPF- FIT Indian Freedom Run” marathon by CRPF in Rourkela city[/caption]

Over 250 people including CRPF jawans and their family members, officials of Odisha Police participated in the marathon. Rourkela SP K Siva Subramani and DIG (Western Range) Kabita Jalan also participated in the marathon.

Members and workers of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee inducing senior leader Suresh Routray garlanded the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Gandhi Park in Bhubaneswar and remembered Mahatma and Shastri on the occasion.

“Two great leaders were born today- Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri. Gandhiji was a rare personality and his efforts led to India to attain freedom. Shastri’s slogan ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’ encouraged the farmers,” said Routray.

BJP workers of North Bhubaneswar paid floral tributes to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Janata Maidan in the capital city.

BJP observes Gandhi Jayanti

Officials of Sambalpur district administration garlanded the bronze idol of the Father of the Nation at Gandhi temple in Bhatra area of the district. Though huge numbers of people throng the temple on the day every year, this year it has been prohibited as per Covid-19 restrictions.

Sudarsan Pattnaik created a sand art at Puri sea beach with the message “Satyagraha Se Swachhagraha” on Gandhi Jayanti. Manas Sahoo also made a sand sculpture to commemorate Gandhiji on his 151st birthday.

Political leaders cutting across party lines including Naveen Patnaik, Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Pratap Sarangi, National BJP Vice President Baijayant Panda paid tributes to Gandhi and Shastri on their birth anniversaries.

(Edited By Suryakant Jena)

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