BJP MP Nishikant Dubey clarified that his controversial statement linking Biju Patnaik to the CIA and Jawaharlal Nehru during the 1962 India-China war was aimed at the Nehru-Gandhi family and Congress, not at Biju Patnaik.
Speaking to reporters, Dubey said he released letters from Nehru that referenced Patnaik’s role in discussions with American officials. He claimed Nehru fought the war with American support, and Patnaik acted as a link between Nehru, the US government, and the CIA.
Dubey insisted he respected Biju Patnaik as a freedom fighter and denied making allegations against him. He said he only targeted the Nehru-Gandhi family and the Congress Party, adding that if anyone felt hurt, he was ready to explain his words. He emphasised that Biju Babu remained a pride of both Bihar and Odisha, recalling Odisha’s separation from Bihar in 1936.
BJD leaders strongly condemned the remarks. They defended Patnaik’s legacy as a freedom fighter, pilot, and twice chief minister of Odisha. Patnaik is remembered for rescuing Indonesian leaders in 1947 and flying missions for the Soviet Union during World War II. BJD leaders said Dubey’s claims were baseless and disrespectful.
Biju Patnaik’s son and former Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, recalled his father’s role during the 1962 war, stating that Nehru placed an office next to his in Delhi to coordinate tactics against China. He described Dubey’s comments as outrageous and said they required medical attention.
Dubey’s remarks have sparked political tension, with the BJP defending his statements as criticism of the Nehru-Gandhi family, while BJD leaders continue to uphold Biju Patnaik’s revered legacy.
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