Naveen to visit UK on Wednesday, reiterates support for Sangma

By Ratikant Mohanty

Bhubaneswar, May 23: Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik will leave for the United Kingdom on Wednesday. This will be his maiden foreign trip after 12 years.

The chief minister, who was a frequent flyer to Western countries prior to making his political debut in 1997, had refrained from going overseas ever since assuming the office of chief minister on March 5, 2000.

During his nine-day visit, Naveen is scheduled to hold discussions with the Department for International Development (DFID) of the UK government on different issues, including anti-poverty programmes in the state.

However, no minister was given the charge to handle the responsibilities of the Chief Minister’s Office in his absence.

“I will discuss on girls’ education projects and anti-poverty programmes with the officials of DFID,” the chief minister said on Tuesday.

The chief minister also said he would hold discussions with experts at Sussex University, on several issues. Besides, in an apparent bid to promote the Odisha’s handloom and handicraft, he will inaugurate an exhibition of the state’s handloom products in London.

A delegation of Odia students would meet the chief minister during his visit.

Odisha’s textiles minister Usha Devi, scheduled caste and scheduled tribe development minister Ramesh Majhi and a group of senior officials will accompany the chief minister in his trip.

“The chief minister’s visit would strengthen the relations between Odisha and the United Kingdom, particularly with the DFID,” ruling BJD youth wing president Sanjaya Das Burma said here on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the chief minister on Tuesday reiterated his support to NCP leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker P.A. Sangma as the Presidential candidate.

Mr Sangma met the chief minister at his residence in Aurangzeb Road, New Delhi, in the morning and thanked him for his support to him.

Praising the NCP leader, Mr Patnaiik said that he was by far the best Presidential candidate.

“Without doubt, he is by far the best candidate for the highest post of the land. He is a leader for crores and crores of tribal people. A distinguished tribal leader should be the Rashtrapti of the country,” Mr Patnaik said.

------------------

Source:www.indusvalleytimes.com/ www.indusvalleytimes.com /(Odisha)/ www.indusvalleytimes.com/(Odisha) www.indusvalleytimes.com / (Odisha)