Naveen Patnaik Calls Out Nishikant Dubey's Disturbing Remarks on Biju Patnaik
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Key Takeaways
Bhubaneswar, March 30 (NationPress) Naveen Patnaik, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Odisha Assembly and President of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), expressed strong disapproval on Monday towards BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, asserting that he requires attention from a mental health professional due to his shocking comments regarding Biju Patnaik, Naveen's father and a former Chief Minister of Odisha.
During a press conference, the BJD leader stated, “I was taken aback by the outrageous statements made by MP Mr. Dubey about Biju Babu yesterday. He appears unaware that Prime Minister Nehru had established an office for Biju Babu in Delhi while he was still serving as Odisha’s Chief Minister, to strategize and counter the Chinese threat.”
“Although I was just 13 years old at the time, I distinctly recall Biju Babu’s anger concerning the Chinese invasion and his relentless efforts to counter it. Clearly, MP Dubey requires mental health support for uttering such unacceptable remarks,” he added.
Additionally, BJD Rajya Sabha MPs protested in the Upper House of Parliament over Dubey’s disrespectful and slanderous comments about Biju Patnaik made on March 27. Following this, they staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha in response to the “objectionable” remarks made by the BJP MP.
On March 27, while addressing the media, Dubey claimed that Jawaharlal Nehru engaged in the 1962 conflict with China with the backing of the United States and in collaboration with CIA operatives, while Biju Patnaik allegedly bridged connections between the US government, the CIA, and Nehru.
This statement prompted immediate backlash from the BJD, leading to heated responses from senior party officials.
On March 28, senior BJD leader and Rajya Sabha member Sasmit Patra resigned from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and IT, which is chaired by BJP leader Nishikant Dubey, as a protest against the derogatory comments made about the revered Biju Patnaik.
In a letter to the Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Patra stated, “In protest, and as a matter of principle, I am resigning from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and IT under the Chairmanship of Nishikant Dubey. I cannot, in good conscience, continue to serve under someone who makes disrespectful comments about the late Shri Biju Patnaik, as he did in a public statement.”