Bhubaneswar: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey has issued an unconditional apology following controversy over his recent remarks on former Odisha Chief Minister Biju Patnaik.

Dubey said his comments had been misinterpreted. He stated that his remarks were aimed at Jawaharlal Nehru, not at Biju Patnaik.

"Last week, while speaking to the media, an incorrect interpretation was drawn from my remarks regarding the Nehru-Gandhi family's acts, specifically in reference to Honourable Biju Patnaik ji, a former Chief Minister and one of India's great leaders. First of all, this statement is my personal view. My thoughts on Nehru ji were misconstrued as being about Biju Babu. Biju Babu has always been and will remain a towering statesman for us. If my statement has hurt anyone's sentiments, I unconditionally apologise," the MP said.

Notably, the controversy stemmed from remarks made by Dubey on March 27. Speaking to mediapersons, Dubey alleged that Jawaharlal Nehru fought the 1962 India-China war with support from the United States and in coordination with CIA agents. He further alleged that Biju Patnaik acted as a link between the US government, the CIA, and Nehru during that period.

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik had launched a sharp attack on Dubey over his objectionable remarks. Patnaik said Dubey’s comments were outrageous and he needs a mental doctor’s attention.

"Nishikant Dubey said something about Biju Babu. I don't think he knows that former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had put an office next to his in Delhi while Biju Babu was still the Chief Minister of Odisha to do the tactics and fight the Chinese. I was very young at the time, about 13 years old, but I remember how furious Biju Babu was with the Chinese attack and how much he did to repel it. I think Nishikant Dubey needs some mental doctor's attention for saying these outrageous things," said Patnaik.

Senior BJD leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra resigned from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and IT, which is chaired by Nishikant Dubey, in protest against the alleged disrespectful remarks.

Clarifying the Odisha government’s position on the matter, Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan had said that the remarks made by MP Dubey are his personal views.

The BJD had earlier demanded an apology from Dubey. During a press conference held at Shankha Bhavan (BJD headquarters), senior vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra and party chief whip in the Odisha Assembly, Pramila Mallik, condemned Dubey’s statement and demanded that the BJP leader immediately issue an unconditional apology to the people of Odisha and the country.