Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra has resigned from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and IT in protest against alleged disrespectful remarks against former Odisha Chief Minister Biju Patnaik by BJP parliamentarian Nishikant Dubey.

Patra has sent his resignation to Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan.

In his resignation letter, the BJD Rajya Sabha MP stated that he cannot continue to serve under Dubey, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and IT.

Patra urges Rajya Sabha Chairman to accept his resignation

“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 remarks about Late Biju Patnaik,” said Patra in his resignation letter.

The BJD MP has urged the Rajya Sabha Chairman to accept his resignation and forward it to the Lok Sabha Speaker.

In a social media post, Patra described late Biju Patnaik, the father of BJD supremo and five-time former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, as a towering freedom fighter, visionary leader and son of the soil whose contribution to the nation is beyond question.

The BJD MP targets BJP govt in Odisha

“Deeply shocked and anguished by the outrageous, false and irresponsible insinuations made against Biju Patnaik ji — a towering freedom fighter, visionary leader and son of the soil whose contribution to the nation is beyond question. Such attempts to distort history and malign a revered leader for political narratives are unacceptable and condemnable. The legacy of Biju Patnaik ji will always stand taller than petty politics,” said the BJD MP in a social media post.

Patra also targeted the BJP government is Odisha over Dubey’s remarks against late leader Biju Patnaik.

“This shows what is Odia Asmita (pride) for the Bharatiya Janata Party. They talk about Odia Asmita, but they go on to stoop to so low levels to say such disparaging, false and concocted statements against a legend, against a statesman like Biju Babu,” said Patra in a statement.

कांग्रेस का काला अध्याय
11. अमेरिका की दलाल नेहरु-गांधी परिवार,आज ही के दिन यानि 27 मार्च 1963 को उड़ीसा के तत्कालीन मुख्यमंत्री बीजू पटनायक जी अमेरिका पहुँचे थे ।1962 का चीन के साथ युद्ध हमने अमेरिका के कहने पर और अमेरिका के पैसे से लड़ा था ।दलाई लामा के भाई अमेरिका के साथ… pic.twitter.com/Xmh9lnCcAv

— Dr Nishikant Dubey (@nishikant_dubey) March 27, 2026