Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik today launched a sharp attack on BJP MP Nishikant Dubey over his recent objectionable remarks about former Odisha Chief Minister 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.

"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 while speaking to reporters.

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.

The 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.

The issue also triggered reactions from Odisha Congress as party MLA Ashok Das termed the remarks “unfortunate” and said leaders who have contributed to the state and the nation deserve respect. He said that Biju Patnaik’s leadership is widely acknowledged, and the BJP MP’s comments amount to an insult to Odisha. Das demanded action against Dubey over the statement. He further pointed out that BJP legislator Babu Singh has apologised over the issue.