New Delhi, March 30: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has strongly condemned comments made by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey regarding Biju Patnaik, demanding an apology. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has also sharply criticized Dubey’s remarks. In response, Nishikant Dubey has clarified his statement.
He took to the social media platform X, stating, “Biju Babu is revered by us as well. It is inappropriate to politicize Biju Babu.”
Dubey shared a screenshot of his post, questioning, “What have I said against Biju Babu? I am conducting a series on the Nehru-Gandhi family’s actions for 365 days. Biju Babu is revered by us. It is not right to politicize him. A respected person always deserves respect. I earnestly request the people of Odisha not to become victims of politics. The people and identity of Odisha are paramount to me. I salute Biju Babu’s contributions to the nation.”
Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding Dubey’s statement, Naveen Patnaik expressed his astonishment at the derogatory remarks made by the BJP MP about Biju Babu. He recalled Biju Babu’s anger during the Chinese invasion and the actions he took to counter it, suggesting that the MP might need consultation with a mental health professional.
On the same day, the BJD’s youth and student organizations, Biju Yuva Janata Dal and Chhatra Janata Dal, protested at Master Canteen Square in Bhubaneswar, vehemently opposing Dubey’s comments. During a press conference held at the BJD headquarters, senior vice president Debi Prasad Mishra and the party’s chief whip in the Odisha Assembly, Pramila Malik, condemned Dubey’s statements and demanded an immediate and unconditional apology.