Gandhi Jayanti celebrated in Odisha

BHUBANESWAR:

Padayatras

, cleanliness drives, anti-liquor campaigns and other programmes marked Gandhi Jayanti on Saturday. Political parties organised cleanliness drives and other social work activities on the day, while social organisations and the state government also conducted various programmes to pay respect to the Mahatma.

Odisha governor Ganeshi Lal paid floral tribute to father of the nation on his birthday at the state level celebration in the Odisha Legislative Assembly premises. Other MLAs and ministers were present at the celebration.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik garlanded the Mahatma’s statue and said, “On this occasion, let's reaffirm our commitment to nurture and spread his immortal ideals of Ahimsa among people while creating a new order in the path of peace and non-violence.”

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik garlanded the Mahatma’s statue here and said, “On this occasion, let's reaffirm our commitment to nurture and spread his immortal ideals of Ahimsa among people while creating a new order in path of peace and non-violence.”

Union education minister and BJP leader Dharmendra

Pradhan

offered his respectful tribute to the bust of Gandhi at the Bamur dak-bungalow in Angul district on Gandhi’s birthday. The Bamur dak-bungalow in the outskirts of Angul had the privilege to host Mahatma Gandhi for a night during his visit in 1934.

As a part of the BJP’s ‘Vocal for Local’ campaign, Pradhan along with other BJP leaders purchased handloom products from a weaver’s village Jairat under Kishorenagar block in Angul district. Similarly, party’s leaders put emphasis on this campaign in other parts of the state. Party’s state president Samir Mohanty along with others conducted Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in the city.

BJD has started its social work activities from the Gandhi Jayanti. The party workers will hold cleanliness drives and organise blood donation camps across the state.

Congress state president

Niranjan Patnaik

on Saturday embarked on the party's ‘Jana Samparka Padayatra’ from Jaleswar, which will continue across Odisha till Gopabandhu Jayanti on October 9. The party also conducted blood donation camps on Gandhi Jayanti. “Our aim is to reconnect people with Congress party’s values and ideology,” he added.

The Orissa High Court has observed Gandhi Jayanti at the court premises by following Covid-19 norms. State public universities including Utkal University Bhubaneswar and FM University Balasore observed the day by holding meetings and cleanliness drives. Milita Odisha Nisha

Nibaran Abhiyan

, a social outfit advocating for total prohibition in the state, conducted meetings at Puri to create awareness about the harmful impact of liquor and illegal drug consumption.

Several other government and non-government organisations also celebrated the day. Social media sites were flooded with Gandhi Jayanti messages and photos of activities.