By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, May 30, 2020: Odishans across the world on Saturday evening sang Bande Utkala Janani’ to respect the Covid-19 warriors. They sang exactly at 5.30 pm on the call given by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

The chief minister recited the song from his residence and the MLAs led by Speaker Surya Narayan Patro joined the programme from the Assembly.

Interestingly, politics took a backseat as MPs as MPs cutting across party lines stood up and sang the state song in unison. Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Pratap Chandra Sarangi, Congress leaders led by the president of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Niranjan Patnaik, BJP leaders led by state president Sameer Mohanty, leaders of other political parties also took part in the event.

Eminent singer Asha Bhosle also recited the song recreated by Shankar Mahadevan and dedicated it to the frontline Covid warriors.

Employees in the Lok Seva Bhavan led by chief secretary Asit Tripathy, policemen at the Police Seva Bhavan in Bhubaneswar and employees in the State Police Headquarters in Cuttack also sang ‘Bande Utkala Janani’ in unison.

Students of educational institutions across the state also participated to encourage the doctors, health staff and policemen who have been relentlessly fighting from the front to contain the spread of coronavirus in the state.