By Purushottam Nayak
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told a Christmas program on December 23 that he is committed to bring justice and peace to everyone in the eastern Indian state.
“I assure you all and I am committed to bring justice and peace irrespective of caste, creed to build peaceful state. I wish you all A Merry Christmas,” the chief minister told some 500 people who gathered at St. Vincent’s Pro-Cathedral Catholic Church in Bhubaneswar, the state capital.
Patnaik express happiness to join the Christian community to celebrate their greatest feast.
“It is a great joy to participate with the Christian Community. The advent of Christmas brings brotherhood, compassion, peace, joy and happiness,” he said in his message.
He commended Christians for their service in education and other fields.
Legislators and leaders of other Christian denominations were among those present on the occasion.
Archbishop John Barwa of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, who welcomed the gathering, said the “little boy” of Bethlehem brought revolutionary changes in the belief systems of trillions of people of this world in the short life span of 33 years. He did so not by warns and destruction, but through love and affection, selflessness and self-sacrifice, the Divine Word prelate added.