BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Wednesday offered an unconditional apology for his claim that former Odisha chief minister Biju Patnaik was the link between former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the CIA during the war against China in the 1960s.
Dubey’s controversial remarks on Biju Patnaik on March 27 had led to political tensions in the state, with the opposition, especially the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), protesting against the remark.
The BJP leader, an MP from the Godda seat in Jharkhand, said the comments made about Nehru were “mistakenly understood as being about Biju Babu.”
“While speaking to the media last week, my remarks—made in the context of the actions of the Nehru-Gandhi family—were misinterpreted in reference to former Chief Minister and one of India’s leading leaders, the respected Shri Biju Patnaik. First of all, that statement was my personal view. My comments about Nehru ji were mistakenly understood as being about Biju Babu,” the BJP leader said in a post on X.
“Biju Babu has always been, and will remain, a statesman of great stature for us. If my statement has hurt sentiments, I sincerely and unconditionally apologise,” he added.
What did Nishikant Dubey say?
Nishikant Dubey alleged that then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru conducted the 1962 war against China with American assistance and coordination with the CIA, adding that former Odisha chief minister Biju Patnaik acted as a link between the US government, the CIA, and Nehru.
The remark led to a row in Odisha, with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha over the disparaging remarks.
Following the remarks, Biju’s son Naveen Patnaik said he was “surprised” and “shocked” by “false and irresponsible insinuations” about his father’s role in national defence. He said the BJP MP’s comments reflected a lack of understanding of history.
BJD leader Sasmit Patra resigned from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on IT and Communications, protesting panel chairperson Dubey’s remarks.
However, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Monday refuted allegations that he disrespected Patnaik, asserting that he always held the former Odisha chief minister in high regard.
“There has never been any lack of respect for Biju Patnaik. When the Congress treated Biju Babu unjustly, it was the Jana Sangh and the Bharatiya Janata Party that stood by him. What I said that day, and what I repeat again today, is that I am running a continuous series exposing the deeds of the Nehru-Gandhi family and the Congress,” Dubey said.
