New Delhi

A major controversy unfolded in Parliament after remarks about Biju Patnaik triggered protests and political backlash.

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Sasmit Patra on Monday resigned from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and IT, objecting to alleged comments made by its chairman Nishikant Dubey. In his letter to the Rajya Sabha Chairperson, Patra said he stepped down “as a matter of principle,” stating he could not serve under someone who made disrespectful remarks about a respected leader.

The controversy began after Dubey allegedly claimed that Biju Patnaik acted as a link between former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the CIA in the 1960s. The statement sparked strong reactions from several Members of Parliament.

Raising the issue in the Rajya Sabha, Patra described the remarks as “false, disparaging and fabricated.” He accused the ruling party of lowering the standards of political discussion and demanded accountability.

BJD members later staged a walkout in protest and demanded an apology, causing brief disruptions in the House.

Biju Patnaik, a two-time Odisha Chief Minister, is remembered as a freedom fighter and aviator who supported Indonesia’s independence in 1947. His son Naveen Patnaik founded the BJD in 1997, and the party remains influential in Odisha.

The incident has intensified tensions between the ruling party and the opposition, with leaders calling for respect towards prominent historical figures.