Bhubaneswar – On Thursday, former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik celebrated a heartening moment for the people of Odisha, noting with pride that a woman born on this land—who first stepped into politics through the state assembly—has now become the President of India. Speaking at the time of President Droupadi Murmu’s address to the Odisha Legislative Assembly, Patnaik said: “We are all proud that the daughter of this land is the President of the country. It is even more a matter of pride that she started her political career in this Odisha Legislative Assembly twenty‑five years ago, and today she has increased the glory of this land by becoming the President of the country. Unity in diversity is the beauty of our nation.”
He went on to highlight how a visit from the President, herself a native of Odisha, was a great honour for the state and its citizens. The Leader of the Opposition added that the entire nation looks to President Murmu for inspiration and guidance in preserving the very soul of India.
Emphasising Odisha’s recent strides, Patnaik noted that the state has made history in a range of areas over the past two decades. “As you are aware, Odisha has scripted history in myriad fields in the last couple of decades. In disaster management, food production, women’s empowerment, poverty alleviation, infrastructure development, transformation in health and educational spheres and the creation of a climate of industrial growth, Odisha is indeed an inspiring story,” he said, crediting the people’s unwavering support for the “phenomenal growth” achieved.
The BJD president further remarked that Odisha’s disaster‑management policy has become a model for the country and that the state has earned international acclaim for its efforts in this domain. “Odisha, with its rich natural resources and skilled workforce, has great potential for growth. We should all strive to ensure Odisha scales new heights of glory,” he added.
Patnaik also drew attention to Odisha’s pivotal role in the integration of princely states, pointing out that Nilagiri was the first to join the Indian Union on 14 November 1947. He highlighted how Odisha led the way in unifying the nation and credited Madhusudan Das for securing the state’s creation on linguistic lines, marking the first such instance in India.
“The President of this great country preserves, protects and defends the Constitution of India, whose 75th anniversary was celebrated just recently. The entire country looks upon you, President Madam, for inspiration and guidance in preserving the very soul of India,” Patnaik concluded.
gyan/pgh
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