Odisha remembers former president Pranab Mukherjee on his demise

Bhubaneswar, August 31 (LocalWire): After a 21-day prolonged battle with illness and COVID-19, former President Pranab Mukherjee today passed away in R R Hospital, New Delhi.

Abhijit Mukherjee informed of his father’s unfortunate passing away on social media.

Condolences have been pouring in for the late President from all quarters of Odisha.

“The passing away of Shri Pranab Mukherjee is a great loss for the nation. I remember, he had a great contribution in the development of Bolangir and KBK region.

When he was the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, three projects (Khordha-Bolangir railway line, Lower Indra and Lower Suktel irrigation projects) were included in the 8th Five Year Plan,” said former Congress MP from Bolangir, Sarat Patnaik.

Reports have also come in from Kendrapara about people mourning the death of the Bharat Ratna recipient.

“The news of his death came as a shock to us.

Pranab da visited our village a few days after the Super Cyclone of 1999, and provided us with relief material and all possible help,” said Bijay Shukla, the former Sarpanch of the Ramnagar Gram Panchayat in Kendrapara.

“I have fond memories of the time when Pranab Babu visited many villages on my motorcycle after the ’99 cyclone.

My wife had cooked fish curry and rice for Pranab Babu and he shared coconut water with me. He will forever remain in our hearts,” said Tarunkanti Kanjilal of Ramnagar.

When Pranab visited Odisha in 2013, he did not forget to invite Tarunkanti Kanjilal to meet him at Raj Bhawan in Bhubaneswar.
“Pranab babu embraced me and enquired about my wife and children.

I became a kind of celebrity in my village after meeting the President of India. His death is a personal loss for me,” Kanjilal added.

Meanwhile, PM Narendra Modi, CM Naveen Patnaik, Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Pratap Sarangi, OPCC chief Niranjan Patnaik too condoled the death of the former president.

“Pranab Da was a prolific reader, powerful orator, scholar, and had unparalleled experience in governance.

He will always be remembered for his exceptional ability to forge consensus on national issues,” tweeted the CM.

LocalWire