Bhubaneswar, March 30: Odisha’s Leader of the Opposition and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president, Naveen Patnaik, sharply criticized BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Monday. He stated that Dubey needs a psychiatrist for making objectionable comments about his father, former Odisha Chief Minister Biju Patnaik.
Speaking to the media, Patnaik expressed his astonishment at Dubey’s remarks, calling them offensive and incorrect. “I was surprised that MP Dubey made such statements about Biju Babu yesterday. I don’t think he understands that Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru provided an office for Biju Babu in Delhi to strategize against China. At that time, Biju Babu was the Chief Minister of Odisha. I was very young, around 13 years old, but I remember how furious Biju Babu was during China’s attack and how hard he worked to stop it. I can say that Dubey needs to consult a psychiatrist,” he said.
On March 27, Nishikant Dubey had claimed in a media interaction that during the 1962 Sino-Indian War, Nehru collaborated with American support and CIA agents, with Biju Patnaik acting as a link between America and Nehru. This statement incited anger among BJD leaders.
On March 28, senior BJD leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra resigned from the Rajya Sabha Standing Committee on Communication and IT, which is chaired by Dubey. He stated, “I am resigning in protest and on principle. I cannot work under someone who makes such derogatory remarks about Biju Patnaik.”
Meanwhile, BJD MPs in the Rajya Sabha also protested and later staged a walkout, asserting that Dubey’s comments were entirely inappropriate and disrespectful. Party leaders believe such statements not only tarnish Biju Patnaik’s image but also create untimely controversies in state and national politics.
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