BJD stages walkout from Rajya Sabha over BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s remarks on Biju Patnaik

New Delhi: The controversial remarks made by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey about Biju Patnaik figured in the Rajya Sabha with BJD floor leader Sasmit Patra registering a strong protest against the “disparaging, false and concocted” words and leading a walkout by the party members from the House.

Soon after the House met for the day, Patra raised this issue suo motu. He had resigned from the Standing Committee on Communications and IT, headed by Dubey, on Sunday to express his ire over the BJP leader’s remarks.

“BJD does not disrupt the House but today we want to place on record our serious protest against the disparaging, false and concocted statements made by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey against Biju Patnaik. He has called Biju Patnaik a CIA agent. This is the level to which the ruling party has fallen- to say that Biju Patnaik was a CIA agent. This is utterly shameful. BJD strongly opposes it and in protest we are walking out,” Patra said.


Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan did not respond to Patra and continued with the proceedings. Later, during special mentions, BJD member Muzibulla Khan expressed his objection to Dubey’s words while speaking in Odia.

There was no response from the Treasury Benches or any union minister in the House on this issue. Dubey is a member of Lok Sabha.

BJD Chief and former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told reporters in Bhubaneswar that Dubey needs to see a psychiatrist.

“I am surprised to hear the outrageous things said about Biju Babu by a BJP MP. I don’t think he knows that Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had given him an office next to his in Delhi (office) while he was still Chief Minister of Odisha to help with strategy during the Chinese conflict and fight the Chinese. I was about 13 years old then, but I remember how furious Biju Babu was with the Chinese attack and how much he did to repel it. I think the MP needs some mental doctor’s attention,” Naveen Patnaik told reporters.