All posts tagged: Biju Patnaik

Nishikant Dubey’s statement on Biju Patnaik keeps Odisha politics boiling

Nishikant Dubey’s statement on Biju Patnaik keeps Odisha politics boiling

Published by Parlour News

For a suave politician like Naveen Patnaik, the remark, “I think the MP [Nishikant Dubey] needs some mental doctor’s attention”, and Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra stepping down from a Parliamentary standing committee may appear disproportionate responses to what was described as a ‘distasteful’ comment on the legendary Biju Patnaik by a BJP MP known for making controversial remarks. Naveen Patnaik slams Nishikant Dubey for ‘outrageous’ remarks against Biju Patnaikhttps://t.co/FlscWk1vig — The Hindu (@the_hindu) March 30, 2026 However, for leaders of the Biju Janata Dal, such a reaction was both inevitable and non-negotiable, given that the party’s very foundation rests on the legacy of Biju Patnaik’s achievements. Although BJP leaders like Baijayant Panda and Dilip Ray issued statements eulogising legendary leader and his contribution to nation, they stopped short of outright condemnation or calling for action against him. Since then, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has taken to the streets, regaining some political ground amid the controversy following its Rajya Sabha setback. The party’s leaders have sought to reconnect with the public after Biju Patnaik revered across party lines …

BJP leaders turn on own MP after shocking CIA claims against Biju Patnaik

BJP leaders turn on own MP after shocking CIA claims against Biju Patnaik

Published by Parlour News

3 min readBhubaneswarMar 30, 2026 08:31 PM IST BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s comments on former Odisha chief minister Biju Patnaik were condemned by his party colleague Baijayant Panda, who said on Monday that casting aspersions on Patnaik’s patriotism is “fantastical and patently ludicrous”. Panda, who is a national vice president of the BJP and an MP from Odisha’s Kendrapada, called Biju Patnaik one of the greatest patriots of modern India. Disapproving of Dubey’s remarks, Panda said such attacks were “unworthy, uninformed and totally unacceptable”. “Biju uncle was a towering personality, not just Odisha’s tallest leader of his era, but among the leading lights of the nation. National pride burned deep in his veins, and he dedicated his life to liberating India and uplifting Odisha. He did that as a pilot, industrialist, political leader, and global trouble-shooter. His heroic missions, diplomatic and defence initiatives all contributed to strengthening our fledgling republic,” Panda said in a post on X. Baijayant Panda’s father, Bansidhar Panda, a noted industrialist in Odisha, had close ties with Biju Patnaik. Though he …

Naveen Patnaik slams Nishikant Dubey’s remarks on Biju Patnaik, calls them ‘outrageous’| India News

Naveen Patnaik slams Nishikant Dubey’s remarks on Biju Patnaik, calls them ‘outrageous’| India News

Published by Parlour News

Bhubaneswar: BJD president Naveen Patnaik on Monday criticised BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s remarks on former Odisha chief minister Biju Patnaik, terming the comments “outrageous” and describing them as baseless allegations against a leader regarded as Odisha’s pride. Former Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik. (Arabinda Mahapatra/Hindustan Times) The controversy stems from Dubey’s recent statement questioning Biju Patnaik’s role during the Sino-Indian War of 1962. Dubey alleged that then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru conducted the war effort with American assistance and coordination with the CIA, and claimed that Biju Patnaik acted as a liaison between the US government, the CIA and Nehru. Responding to the remarks, former CM Patnaik said he was “surprised” and “shocked” by what he described as false and irresponsible insinuations about his father’s role in national defence. He recalled that Nehru had relied on Biju Patnaik during the conflict and had even placed an office next to his in Delhi to coordinate tactical responses against Chinese forces. “I was very young at the time, about 13 years old, but I remember how furious …

Patnaik becomes BJD president for 9th time, asks party workers to expose BJP’s ‘false’ narrative

Patnaik becomes BJD president for 9th time, asks party workers to expose BJP’s ‘false’ narrative

Published by Parlour News

Former Odisha Chief Minister and BJD President Naveen Patnaik. File | Photo Credit: PTI Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who was chosen as the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president for the ninth time in a row, on Saturday (April 19, 2025) called upon party workers to expose the alleged false narrative of the ruling BJP. BJD’s organisational election returning officer P.K. Deb announced Mr. Patnaik as the party president at the state council meeting held at its state headquarters, Sankha Bhawan. Addressing party leaders and workers after being named as the BJD president, Mr. Patnaik said, “We conceded defeat in the last Assembly election by a narrow margin, even though our party got more votes. This is because we couldn’t effectively counter the false narrative. Creating a false narrative is the main strategy against the BJD. We should be aggressive in exposing this, especially on social media.” The Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Assembly also said, “We need to improve our social media presence. Technology should be used to tell the truth and …

Why Biju Patnaik Has Become Latest BJP vs Opposition Flashpoint In Odisha

Why Biju Patnaik Has Become Latest BJP vs Opposition Flashpoint In Odisha

Published by Webster

New Delhi: Over a hundred years after his birth, the legendary Odisha politician Biju Patnaik’s birthday has become a political flashpoint between the ruling BJP and former chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s party, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD). The Odisha government, led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, has decided to delink the celebration of Panchayati Raj Divas from the birth anniversary of Biju Patnaik.  This decision has been met with strong opposition from both the BJD and the Congress, who view it as an affront to the legacy of Biju Patnaik. Why Biju Patnaik Is Celebrated  Born on March 5, 1916 in Cuttack, Biju Patnaik belonged to a family rooted in India’s freedom struggle. While his father, Lakshminarayan Patnaik, hailed from the literary and culturally rich village of Nuagaon in Ganjam district, his mother, Ashalata Devi, had an interesting subplot involving East Bengal. Biju Patnaik’s maternal uncles were among the revolutionary youths responsible for the Chittagong Armoury Raid of 1930, along with Surya Sen. At the age of sixteen, Biju Patnaik got on a bicycle …

With Indonesia, India’s opportunity and Beijing’s eye

With Indonesia, India’s opportunity and Beijing’s eye

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Despite a shared history, India has neglected its eastern neighbours over the past six decades. On October 20, a vital maritime neighbour, Indonesia, saw a potentially climactic power transition. The avowedly nationalist Prabowo Subianto succeeded the affable Joko Widodo as president, with the latter’s son Gibran Rakabuming Raka providing continuity as vice president. China is the first country President Prabowo is visiting, despite a Chinese coast guard ship having intruded into Indonesian waters on October 26. Prabowo’s relations with the US remain wary because of his human rights record. India must embrace President Prabowo before yet another key neighbour joins the Sinosphere despite Indonesian wariness about China’s overbearing business and geopolitical influence. Prabowo belongs to a storied but controversial family. His father Sumitro Djojohadikusumo was the only person to have served as a senior minister in the cabinets of both Sukarno (1945-1967) and Suharto (1968-1998). Since Suharto undid almost every aspect of Sukarno’s regime during his reign, it required great political deftness to serve both. Prabowo’s grandfather Margono Djojohadikusumo founded Bank Negara Indonesia. It briefly …