Bhubaneswar: Even as BJD MPs staged a walk out from Rajya Sabha over ‘derogatory’ remarks against Odisha’s legendary leader Biju Patnaik, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Monday clarified that his comments were part of his ongoing series critiquing the Nehru-Gandhi family, and not a direct attack on the former Chief Minister.
Speaking to reporters, Dubey described Biju Patnaik as a “tall freedom fighter” and emphasised that the BJP (and its predecessor, Jan Sangh) had stood by him when the Congress allegedly 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,” he said.
Dubey pushed back against criticism, questioning what specific allegations he had made in his social media posts or statements. “Tell me, which allegation did I level at Biju Babu in my tweet?” he asked, adding that he was ready to explain his remarks further if they had unintentionally hurt sentiments.
He further opposed the idea of confining leaders to specific regions. “Was Biju Babu not a pride of Bihar? Bihar and Odisha were carved out as separate provinces in 1936-37. Even Bidhan Chandra Roy, the first Chief Minister of West Bengal, was born in Patna and was a Bihari by birth. People often try to restrict icons like Ram, Krishna and Babasaheb Ambedkar to their caste or region, but they belong to the entire nation, they are our national heroes,” he asserted.
The controversy erupted after Dubey’s statements on March 27, where he alleged that Nehru had fought the 1962 war against China with American financial support and in coordination with CIA agents. He claimed Biju Patnaik, then Odisha’s Chief Minister, served as a key intermediary in these efforts and was involved in matters related to a US air base at Charbatia in Odisha for U-2 spy planes. He cited historical letters and documents to support his claims.
The remarks drew sharp condemnation from the BJD with its president Naveen Patnaik, son of Biju Patnaik, calling Dubey’s comments “outrageous” and suggesting the BJP MP “needs a mental doctor’s attention”. Naveen also recalled his father’s close collaboration with Nehru during the 1962 conflict, noting that the Prime Minister had provided Biju Patnaik with an office adjacent to his own in Delhi to strategise against the Chinese aggression. He remembered his father’s anger over the Chinese attack and his active efforts to counter it.
Also Read: इतिहास तो यही है! Nishikan Dubey’s Sharp Retort As BJD Slams ‘CIA Link’ Remark On Biju Patnaik
In protest, senior BJD leader and Rajya Sabha member Sasmit Patra resigned from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and IT, which is chaired by Dubey, on March 28. Patra described the remarks as “disparaging, false, and baseless,” calling Biju Patnaik a “stalwart, legend, and statesman” who played pivotal roles in global diplomacy, including aiding Indonesian freedom fighters and supporting Allied efforts in World War II.
The BJD has strongly condemned the statements as an insult to Odia pride and demanded an apology.
Even Dilip Ray, recently elected to the Rajya Sabha with BJP support and a longtime admirer who regards Biju Patnaik as his mentor, strongly objected to reducing the iconic leader’s extraordinary contributions to India and Odisha into casual, sensationalized political jabs, calling it both unfair and deeply disrespectful
“One may debate history, governments, or decisions taken in complex and difficult times — but no one has the right to question Biju Babu’s nationalist spirit, his integrity, or his unwavering commitment to India,” he posted on X.
Check his post here:
Biju Babu’s life was a testament to courage, sacrifice, vision, and uncompromising patriotism. He was not merely a towering leader of Odisha, but one of the rare nation-builders whose life and work left an indelible mark on India’s political and strategic history.
From his role…
— Dilip ray (@DilipRayOdisha) March 30, 2026