Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Tuesday condemned BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s remarks on former State Chief Minister Biju Patnaik, stating that the comments were unacceptable and had hurt public sentiment.
Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said the government had taken note of the statement. In a post on X, Harichandan clarified that the remarks reflected Dubey’s personal views and did not represent the official position of the State government.
He added that the comments had caused anguish, including to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
Harichandan urged elected representatives to maintain restraint in public discourse. He stated that remarks concerning Biju Patnaik, a widely respected figure in Odisha, should be made with responsibility.
He also warned against politicising the issue, noting that it could undermine the legacy of the former chief minister.
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The issue also resonated in the Odisha Assembly. Members of the BJD, Congress, and CPI(M) staged a protest inside the House and demanded an unconditional apology from Dubey. The protest led to repeated slogan shouting and disrupted proceedings.
Soon after the House assembled for Question Hour at 10:30 am, Opposition members entered the Well of the House and raised slogans against the state government over its silence on the issue.
Amid the disruption, Speaker Surama Padhy adjourned the proceedings till 11:30 am.
