Bhubaneswar, Dec 25 (PTI) Odisha on Saturday paid rich tributes to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his 97th birth anniversary, with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik describing him as a "great visionary".

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Patnaik, who had served as a Union minister in the Vajpayee government, said the late BJP leader, with his multi-faceted personality, inspired generations.

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"Atal ji was a great visionary, outstanding parliamentarian and distinguished statesman, whose multi-faceted personality continues to inspire generations," the CM said in a statement.

AIIMS-Bhubaneswar, the foundation of which was laid by the former PM, also paid homage to the leader.

"He (Vajpayee) had brought about radical changes in the healthcare sector," one of the speakers at AIIMS- Bhubaneswar said during a meeting on its campus.

Vajpayee had laid the foundation stone of AIIMS-Bhubaneswar on July 15, 2003.

The state unit of the BJP observed Vajpayee's birth anniversary as 'Good Governance Day' with meetings and rallies.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)