BJP's Nishikant Dubey's remark against Biju Patnaik sparks resignation, outrage
Nishikant Dubey, the head of the Parliamentary standing committee on Communications and IT, allegedly called Biju Patnaik a CIA agent, which triggered a major controversy.
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Sasmit Patra resigned from the Parliamentary standing committee on Communications and IT, headed by BJP leader Nishikant Dubey, after the latter allegedly made a controversial remark on the former Odisha Chief Minister Biju Patnaik. As per sources, Dubey allegedly called Patnaik a 'CIA agent', which resulted in a major controversy.
"In protest, and as a matter of principle, I am resigning from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and IT under the chairmanship of Shri Nishikant Dubey. I cannot, in good conscience, continue to serve under someone who makes disrespectful remarks about Late Shri Biju Patnaik ji as he did in a public statement," Patra wrote in a letter to the Rajya Sabha Chairperson, as reported by news agency PTI.
The controversy erupted a few days back when Dubey allegedly said that Biju Patnaik, who served as the Chief Minister of Odisha twice (1961-63 and 1990-95), was the link between the former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the CIA in the 1960s. It triggered widespread protests among several members of Parliament, with Patra taking charge.
Soon after the papers were laid on Monday in the Upper House, Patra rose to record a serious protest against the disparaging, false and concocted statements made by MP Nishikant Dubey against Biju Patnaik."
"He (Dubey) has called Biju Patnaik a CIA agent. This is the level to which the ruling party has fallen," he said. "This is utterly shameful. Biju Janata Dal strongly opposes it, and in protest, we are walking out," he said.
The members of the BJD soon walked out of the Rajya Sabha after that. They also sought an apology from Dubey.
'NEEDS ATTENTION OF A MENTAL DOCTOR', NAVEEN PATNAIK SLAMS NISHIKANT DUBEY
BJD President Naveen Patnaik on Monday slammed Nishikant Dubey for the 'CIA link' remark. Calling Dubey's words outrageous, Patnaik said that Dubey needs the 'attention of a medical doctor.'
"I think the BJP MP needs some mental doctor's attention for saying these outrageous things," Patnaik told the press outside the Odisha state assembly.
Going down his memory lane, the 79-year-old politician also said that he was 13 when the Chinese forces attacked India, and Biju Patnaik did everything to force the Chinese invaders away.
"...Biju Babu was furious about the attack and I remember how much he did to repel it," said Patnaik.
WHO WAS BIJU PATNAIK?
Biju Patnaik, two-time Chief Minister of Odisha (1961-63 and 1990-95) and the namesake of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), is arguably the most towering leader of the state. Patnaik was a freedom fighter and aviator known for his role in daring missions, including flying to Jakarta in 1947 to rescue Indonesian independence leaders; he flew a Dakota DC-3 aircraft along with his wife, Gyan Patnaik, into Dutch-controlled territory and evacuated Sutan Sjahrir and Vice-President Mohammad Hatta in the middle of Dutch firing.
For his act of courage and solidarity, Biju Patnaik was awarded the Bhoomi Putra (Son of soil) title, an honour rarely given to foreigners by the Indonesian government. In 1995, two years before his death, he also received the Bintang Jasa Utama (Highest Service Star) award. He was also awarded the honorary citizenship of Indonesia.
After his death in 1997, his son Naveen Patnaik floated the party, Biju Janata Dal. The party first came to power in 2000 and ruled Odisha for 24 years before losing power to the BJP in the 2024 assembly elections. Patnaik became the longest-serving Chief Minister in the history of Odisha.
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Sasmit Patra resigned from the Parliamentary standing committee on Communications and IT, headed by BJP leader Nishikant Dubey, after the latter allegedly made a controversial remark on the former Odisha Chief Minister Biju Patnaik. As per sources, Dubey allegedly called Patnaik a 'CIA agent', which resulted in a major controversy.
"In protest, and as a matter of principle, I am resigning from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and IT under the chairmanship of Shri Nishikant Dubey. I cannot, in good conscience, continue to serve under someone who makes disrespectful remarks about Late Shri Biju Patnaik ji as he did in a public statement," Patra wrote in a letter to the Rajya Sabha Chairperson, as reported by news agency PTI.
The controversy erupted a few days back when Dubey allegedly said that Biju Patnaik, who served as the Chief Minister of Odisha twice (1961-63 and 1990-95), was the link between the former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the CIA in the 1960s. It triggered widespread protests among several members of Parliament, with Patra taking charge.
Soon after the papers were laid on Monday in the Upper House, Patra rose to record a serious protest against the disparaging, false and concocted statements made by MP Nishikant Dubey against Biju Patnaik."
"He (Dubey) has called Biju Patnaik a CIA agent. This is the level to which the ruling party has fallen," he said. "This is utterly shameful. Biju Janata Dal strongly opposes it, and in protest, we are walking out," he said.
The members of the BJD soon walked out of the Rajya Sabha after that. They also sought an apology from Dubey.
'NEEDS ATTENTION OF A MENTAL DOCTOR', NAVEEN PATNAIK SLAMS NISHIKANT DUBEY
BJD President Naveen Patnaik on Monday slammed Nishikant Dubey for the 'CIA link' remark. Calling Dubey's words outrageous, Patnaik said that Dubey needs the 'attention of a medical doctor.'
"I think the BJP MP needs some mental doctor's attention for saying these outrageous things," Patnaik told the press outside the Odisha state assembly.
Going down his memory lane, the 79-year-old politician also said that he was 13 when the Chinese forces attacked India, and Biju Patnaik did everything to force the Chinese invaders away.
"...Biju Babu was furious about the attack and I remember how much he did to repel it," said Patnaik.
WHO WAS BIJU PATNAIK?
Biju Patnaik, two-time Chief Minister of Odisha (1961-63 and 1990-95) and the namesake of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), is arguably the most towering leader of the state. Patnaik was a freedom fighter and aviator known for his role in daring missions, including flying to Jakarta in 1947 to rescue Indonesian independence leaders; he flew a Dakota DC-3 aircraft along with his wife, Gyan Patnaik, into Dutch-controlled territory and evacuated Sutan Sjahrir and Vice-President Mohammad Hatta in the middle of Dutch firing.
For his act of courage and solidarity, Biju Patnaik was awarded the Bhoomi Putra (Son of soil) title, an honour rarely given to foreigners by the Indonesian government. In 1995, two years before his death, he also received the Bintang Jasa Utama (Highest Service Star) award. He was also awarded the honorary citizenship of Indonesia.
After his death in 1997, his son Naveen Patnaik floated the party, Biju Janata Dal. The party first came to power in 2000 and ruled Odisha for 24 years before losing power to the BJP in the 2024 assembly elections. Patnaik became the longest-serving Chief Minister in the history of Odisha.
