Bhubaneswar: CM Mohan Charan Majhi is “deeply hurt” by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s remarks linking Biju Patnaik to the CIA, law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said on Tuesday, even as the BJD and Congress protested inside the assembly seeking a censure motion against the Jharkhand MP.Speaking to the media outside the assembly, Harichandan said the negative comment on Odisha’s renowned statesman and former CM Patnaik has come to govt’s notice. “I want to make it very clear that the remark is his individual opinion. Such a remark is totally unacceptable. Politicising this issue will hurt Biju’s image,” Harichandan said, adding, “Starting from the chief minister, this has deeply hurt everyone.”Harichandan said it is not right to make further comments or counter-comments and engage in politics. Everyone has deep respect for Patnaik, the minister said.The development comes on a day BJD, Congress and CPM staged protest inside the assembly, forcing speaker Surama Padhy to adjourn proceedings for around an hour moments after the house reconvened for the day. The speaker sent the notice for a censure motion to the business advisory committee.BJD MLA Dhruba Charan Sahoo said the way a great freedom fighter and patriot was insulted by BJP is uncalled for. “The party claiming to be promoter of Odia asmita should allow the censure motion and force Dubey to tender an unconditional apology,” Sahoo said.Echoing similar views, Congress MLA Ashok Kumar Das said Dubey must withdraw his comment and apologise to the nation.Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhakta Charan Das condemned Dubey’s remarks, terming it “outrageous”. “Such baseless comments on a towering freedom fighter like him are absolutely intolerable. Insulting Biju Babu’s legacy won’t hide the failures of the BJP govt,” Das posted on X.Dubey, whose alleged statement linking Patnaik with the CIA has kicked up a storm, clarified on Monday that he had never undermined the former Odisha CM, and termed him a great freedom fighter.
