Bhubaneswar: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has defended his recent remarks on former Odisha Chief Minister Biju Patnaik amid an ongoing political controversy, asserting that the BJP has always respected Patnaik.

Speaking to reporters, Dubey described Biju Patnaik as a tall freedom fighter and said the BJP had supported him when the Congress treated him unfairly. “Biju Patnaik ji was a tall freedom fighter, and the BJP showed full respect to him. When Congress did injustice with Biju Babu, Jan Sangh and BJP stood by him,” Dubey said.

Clarifying his earlier statements, the BJP MP questioned the criticism directed at him, saying that he had not made any allegations against Biju Patnaik in his social media posts. “Tell me, which allegation did I level at Biju Babu in my tweet?” he asked, adding that if his remarks had hurt anyone, he would try to explain his statement.

Notably, the controversy stemmed from remarks made by Dubey on March 27. Speaking to mediapersons, Dubey alleged that Jawaharlal Nehru fought the 1962 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 today launched a sharp attack on Dubey over his objectionable remarks about Biju Patnaik. Patnaik said Dubey’s comments were outrageous and he needs a mental doctor’s attention for making such statements.

Patnaik also recalled the events involving his father, Biju Patnaik, during the 1962 India-China war. He said that former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had set up an office next to his own in Delhi for Biju Patnaik, who was then Odisha’s Chief Minister, to help strategise against China. Patnaik added that although he was young at the time, he clearly remembered Biju Patnaik’s anger over the Chinese attack and his efforts to counter it.

Dubey's comments triggered strong reactions from the BJD. Senior party 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.