Odia diaspora celebrates Biju birth centenary in Delhi

New Delhi: Many political leaders and members of the Odia diaspora celebrated the birth centenary of former Odisha CM and freedom fighter Biju Patnaik paying rich tributes to him in the national capital today.

People from all walks of life attended the event at the Constitutional Club here and commemorated Biju Babu’s contribution for Odisha.

The speakers demanded the ‘Bharat Ratna’ for the late leader.

“He is the ‘Viswakarma’ of modern Odisha. He has become the role model and an icon for Odisha even after 19 years of his death. Our country has not given him the kind of respect other nations have done. Our attempt in this regard should continue,” Baijayant Panda, who attended the programme, said.

The Lok Sabha member from Kendrapara on Friday met Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and submitted a memorandum seeking installation of a statue of the legendary leader on the Parliament premises.

Panda, in his memorandum, highlighted Biju Patnaik’s achievements and contribution as a pilot, a freedom fighter, an industrialist and a politician. Citing Biju Patnaik’s contribution to the freedom movement of Indonesia, Panda also noted that the legendary leader from Odisha was commemorated by the Indonesian government on its 50th Independence Day celebrations.