Odisha CM’s appeal gives way to book gifting on New Year

BHUBANESWAR : Flowers may have been the most popular choice as New Year gifts but the capital city witnessed a welcome shift towards books this time. In what is being considered as beginning of a trend, people – those in the corporate and government sectors – are buying books of all genres as New Year gifts, thanks to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.

The push for gifting books came after the CM appealed supporters and well-wishers to refrain from bringing flowers or gifts while visiting him on the New Year’s Day in view of the death of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and sufferings of farmers due to crop loss.