Naveen Condemns BJP MP’s Remarks on Biju Patnaik, Calls Them ‘Outrageous’

Bhubaneswar: BJD President and Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly Naveen Patnaik on Monday strongly criticized BJP MP Nishikant Dubey for his recent remarks on Biju Patnaik, terming them “outrageous” and “baseless allegations” against a leader widely regarded as the pride of Odisha.

The controversy erupted after Dubey questioned Biju Patnaik’s role during the Sino-Indian War. In his statement, the BJP MP alleged that then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru conducted the war effort with American assistance involving the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), claiming that Biju Patnaik acted as a liaison between the US government, the CIA, and Nehru.

Reacting sharply, Naveen Patnaik expressed shock and surprise over what he described as “false and irresponsible insinuations” about his father’s contribution to national defence.

“Surprised to hear the outrageous things said about Biju Babu by a BJP MP. I don’t think he knows that Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had given him an office next to his in Delhi while he was still Chief Minister of #Odisha to help with strategy during the Chinese conflict and fight the Chinese”, Naveen said.

The BJD President further said, “I was about 13 years old then, but I remember how furious Biju Babu was with the Chinese attack and how much he did to repel it. I think the MP needs some mental doctor’s attention”.

Accusing Dubey of lacking an understanding of history, he urged respect for the well-documented contributions of Biju Patnaik to India’s freedom struggle and nation-building.

The issue quickly escalated, with leaders of the Biju Janata Dal staging protests both inside and outside Parliament. Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra resigned from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and IT, chaired by Dubey, stating he could not continue under someone who had made “disrespectful” remarks about Biju Patnaik.

Patra said he was “deeply shocked and anguished” by the “outrageous, false and irresponsible insinuations” against the former Chief Minister. He accused Dubey of attempting to distort history for political gains and asserted that disrespecting Biju Patnaik amounted to an insult to the pride and identity of the people of Odisha.

Raising the matter in the Rajya Sabha, BJD members demanded an immediate apology from Dubey and the BJP, and later staged a walkout from the House.

The party warned that protests would intensify if an apology was not forthcoming, emphasising that Biju Patnaik’s contributions are well-established and cannot be undermined by “irresponsible statements.”