Senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra has resigned from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and IT, chaired by BJP leader Nishikant Dubey. Patra cited an alleged disrespectful statement made by Dubey against legendary leader Biju Patnaik as the reason for his resignation. In a letter to the Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Patra expressed his protest and stated that he could not continue to serve under someone who disrespects Biju Patnaik.
Patra urged the Rajya Sabha chairman to accept his resignation from the Committee and forward it to the Speaker, Lok Sabha, as the Committee falls under the Lok Sabha. He took to social media to express shock and anguish over the remarks made by Dubey, describing them as outrageous, false, and irresponsible insinuations against Biju Patnaik. Patra emphasized that attempts to distort history and malign a revered leader for political purposes are unacceptable.
The BJD leader praised Biju Patnaik as a national icon and emphasized that his legacy will always surpass petty politics. Other BJD leaders also criticized Dubey’s remarks against the former Odisha Chief Minister. BJD MP Subhasish Khuntia denounced the statements made by Dubey, calling them unfounded and a grave affront to Biju Patnaik’s legacy as a freedom fighter and symbol of Odisha’s pride and valor. Dubey had previously made controversial remarks linking Biju Patnaik to historical events involving Jawaharlal Nehru and the 1962 war with China.
