In a significant gesture to honour the legacy of legendary Odia leader Biju Patnaik, BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi on Saturday inaugurated the ‘Biju Hall’ at the Indian Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The event also included the unveiling of a commemorative plaque celebrating Patnaik’s role in supporting Indonesia’s independence struggle.
Biju Patnaik, who flew secret missions in support of Indonesian freedom fighters, was conferred with Indonesia’s highest civilian honour ‘Bintang Jasa Utama’ and granted honorary citizenship ‘Bumi Putra’ for his invaluable contributions.
Sarangi, part of an All-Party Parliamentary delegation led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha under Operation Sindoor outreach, also interacted with the Odia diaspora and members of Indonesia’s political and religious leadership, strengthening bilateral ties and solidarity against terrorism.
During their visit, the delegation met representatives of Indonesia’s Golkar and Nasdem parties, who expressed deep condolences over the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives. Indian MPs reiterated India’s zero-tolerance policy on terrorism, outlining the nation’s unified all-party stance and commitment to national security.
The visit also included a solemn moment of silence, interactive sessions with media and diaspora members, and a tribute at the Gandhi Memorial Intercontinental School in Jakarta. The MPs participated in PM Modi’s ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ tree plantation drive and met leaders from Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) — the world’s largest Islamic organization — who joined India in condemning religious extremism and promoting peace.
This visit marks another leg of the delegation’s Asia tour across Singapore, South Korea, Japan, and now Indonesia, aimed at internationalising India’s message following the cross-border Pahalgam terror attack and highlighting Operation Sindoor as a model of non-contact, multi-domain modern warfare.
