Amid row over assembly Pope, Naveen Patnaik visits Sheikh Zayed mosque in Abu Dhabi

By PTI

BHUBANESWAR: Amid criticism by opposition BJP over assembly Pope Francis at Vatican City final week, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has visited Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi forward of assembly potential traders in Dubai within the United Arab Emirates.

Patnaik, who’s on an 11-day international tour, had met Pope Francis on June 22, with the saffron celebration questioning his intention of assembly the Catholic Church head.

“The marble dome of Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Abu Dhabi is an epitome of magnificence with intricate inlay work inspired by Moghul architecture. I am told, the artisans and the marbles also came from Makrana village of Rajasthan. A bit of India, everywhere,” Patnaik tweeted together with a video of his go to to the mosque on Monday.

Patnaik, who will return to Odisha on June 30, is scheduled to go to Puri to witness Lord Jagannath’s annual Ratha Jatra on July 1.

To underline his secular credentials, Patnaik is making visits to non secular locations of various faiths, a BJD insider mentioned.

Senior BJP lawmaker Jaynarayan Mishra, who’s amongst these thought-about for the publish of the Leader of Opposition in Odisha meeting, has questioned Patnaik’s Vatican City go to.

“By spending public money, why did CM go there and what did he achieve in return? What was the need to meet the Pope by standing in a queue? We have never seen him meet Shankaracharya in Puri,” Mishra has mentioned.

The BJP, nevertheless, has not but reacted on Patnaik’s go to to the mosque.

Reacting to the BJP’s objection, BJD legislator S B Behera mentioned, “What is wrong in meeting the Pope? If this meeting creates a positive image of Odisha in the world, the CM has taken the right decision.”

This is Patnaik’s second official international tour within the final 22 years of his reign in Odisha.