Odisha: 79th State-Level Independence Day Celebrated

Bhubaneswar: Odisha celebrated the 79th State-Level Independence Day with grandeur at Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Bhubaneswar, where Chief Minister Mohan Majhi hoisted the national flag and took the salute at a ceremonial parade.

He extended his greetings and best wishes to the people of Odisha, all Indians across the country, and those living abroad on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day.

Majhi highlighted Odisha’s significant role in the independence movement, recalling the sacrifices of several prominent Odia freedom fighters, including Utkalmani Pandit Gopabandhu Das, Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Das, Shaheed Laxman Naik, Veer Surendra Sai, Chakra Bisoi, etc.

He also paid tributes to Bakshi Jagabandhu and Jayee Rajguru, the leaders of the Paika Rebellion in Odisha in 1817, which occurred four decades before the 1857 sepoy mutiny, known as the First War of Independence.

During his Independence Day speech, the Chief Minister also paid homage to freedom fighters from all schools of thought who united with the sole objective of ending British rule.

Majhi outlined the state’s vision for progress, emphasizing women’s safety, job creation, and technological advancement

Reaffirming a zero-tolerance stance on women’s safety and organized crime, CM Majhi declared that no offender, regardless of influence, would escape justice.

He emphasized that the police have been empowered to act decisively, with strict legal action promised for any negligence in protecting women.

Highlighting the illegal drug trade as a major driver of crime, he pledged robust enforcement to curb its spread.

In a bold move to position Odisha as India’s Pharma Hub, Majhi announced an upcoming Pharma Conclave to attract leading domestic and international pharmaceutical companies. This initiative is projected to create over 2.5 lakh jobs, revitalizing the state’s pharmaceutical sector. Additionally, the government is seeking approval to fill 22,896 vacant posts, pushing the total recruitment target to nearly 85,000, surpassing the initial goal of 65,000 government jobs, the CM said.