Bhubaneswar, April 6 (IANS) Senior Sasmit Patra, a leader of the Biju Janata Dal and Rajya Sabha MP, on Monday wrote to Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal, seeking his immediate intervention to ensure that the proposed Metro Rail project, initiated during the previous government, is not scrapped by the state government. In his letter, Patra argued that the project envisioned during the previous Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government is a critical mass-transit backbone for th…
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New Delhi, March 30 (IANS) A political controversy has erupted after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey made remarks about former Odisha Chief Minister, late Biju Patnaik, prompting BJD MP Sasmit Patra to resign from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and IT in protest. The row began after Dubey allegedly claimed that Biju Patnaik acted as a “link” between the US government, the CIA, and late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. The remarks triggered strong reactions from the Biju Janata…
Bhubaneswar, March 30 (IANS) Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Odisha Assembly and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President Naveen Patnaik on Monday strongly criticised BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, stating that he needs “mental doctor’s attention” for making outrageous remarks about his father and former Odisha Chief Minister Biju Patnaik.Speaking to media persons, the BJD supremo Patnaik said, “I was surprised to find the outrageous things that MP Shri Mr Dubey said about Biju Babu yesterday. I don’t t…
Bhubaneswar, March 29 (IANS) Senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra has tendered his resignation from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and IT, chaired by BJP leader Nishikant Dubey, over an alleged disrespectful statement made by Dubey against legendary leader Biju Patnaik recently. In a letter addressed to the Chairman of Rajya Sabha on Saturday, Patra earlier wrote, “In protest, and as a matter of principle, I am resigning from the Parliamen…
New Delhi, March 28 (IANS) BJD MP Sasmit Patra on Saturday said that the recent reduction in excise duty on petrol and diesel could result in a revenue loss of Rs 3-4 lakh crore for the Government of India, while also warning of broader economic challenges stemming from the ongoing West Asia conflict. Speaking to IANS, Patra said, “The conflict in West Asia naturally has a global impact, including on India. The excise duty cut will cost the Government of India a loss of around Rs 3–4 lakh cr…
New Delhi, March 26 (IANS) In the aftermath of the all-party meeting on West Asia, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP, Sasmit Patra and BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo have highlighted their perspectives on India’s diplomatic stance and regional security, while underscoring India’s growing role in international affairs.Speaking to IANS, Patra recalled historical precedents in regional diplomacy, stating, “In 1981, when relations between Iran and the United States deteriorated, Pakistan had created a…
New Delhi, March 25 (IANS) The Government on Wednesday assured the opposition parties that more ships are coming through the Strait of Hormuz and there is no cause for concern. At an all-party meeting held here on the West Asia crisis, the Government told the opposition leaders that India is on top of geopolitics and there is enough energy security. The leaders were also told how the ongoing situation would affect the country and the measures that the government was taking to deal with the fallo…
Bhubaneswar, March 11 (IANS) The members of the women, youth, and student wings of opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha staged a protest demonstration at Master Canteen Square here on Wednesday against the recent hike in prices of LPG cylinders and essential commodities. The demonstration was organised by the Biju Mahila Janata Dal, Biju Yuba Janata Dal, and Biju Chatra Janata Dal, where participants symbolically prepared tea on earthen chulhas as part of their protest to highlight the bur…
New Delhi, Feb 16 (IANS) The India AI Impact Summit 2026 commenced on Monday at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, marking a significant milestone in the country’s push towards becoming a global leader in artificial intelligence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally inaugurated the event, which has drawn technological experts, start-up founders, policymakers, and representatives from numerous countries.The gathering focuses on the transformative potential of AI across critical sectors such as he…
Bhubaneswar, Feb 14 (IANS) The Opposition Biju Janata Dal on Saturday intensified its criticism of the Bharatiya Janata Party, questioning its commitment to a decade-old promise to secure special category status for Odisha.BJD MP Sasmit Patra, speaking at a press conference here, said the demand remains unresolved despite the BJP’s 2014 manifesto pledging to work towards granting the status for the state’s overall development.”The Odisha BJP in 2014 promised that it would strive for the spec…