Puri: After the night halt at Puri Town, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who is on a two-day visit to Odisha, accompanied by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra and MLAs Jayanta Sarangi and Lalitendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra offered prayers at Jagannath Temple on Thursday.
The Union Ministers also visited sand art on ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ installed by noted artist Sudarsan Pattnaik & his team at blue flag beach.
Sitharaman later administered ‘Panch Pran Pledge’ in Puri as espoused by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make India developed and self-reliant by 2047.
-We pledge to make India developed and self-reliant by 2047.
-We pledge to remove any trace of colonial mindset.
-We pledge to celebrate our heritage.
-We pledge to strengthen unity and respect those who protect the country.
-We pledge to perform the duties of a citizen.
The Finance Minister and her colleague is scheduled to visit the birthplace of freedom fighter and martyr of Odisha Jayakrushna Rajaguru Mohapatra, popularly known as Jayee Rajguru, at Biraharekrushnapur village in the district. They will take part in a plantation drive as part of ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh’ campaign launched by the Centre to pay tribute to individuals who sacrificed their lives for the nation, from August 9 to 30.
After returning to Bhubaneswar, the ministers will join a book launch and attend the inaugural ceremony of 20th National CA Conference being organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) later in the day. The three-day event will have technical session and panel discussions on topics such as GST, audit, direct taxes, information technology, Indian economy and contribution of states, among others.
After arriving in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday, Sitharaman accompanied by Dharmendra went to the BJP state headquarters to join a memorial meeting. They paid rich tributes to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his fifth death anniversary and former MLA Nibedita Pradhan, who passed away on August 10, 2023.
