Women BJD leaders condemn Jay’s anti-Naveen remarks

Bhubaneswar: Women leaders of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Wednesday strongly condemned the alleged false remarks made against party supremo Naveen Patnaik by BJP’s Nuapada byelection candidate Jay Dholakia and his mother Kalpana Bhaunji.

Addressing a press conference, BJD women leaders said Naveen Patnaik is regarded by the people of Odisha as a “father figure” who treats all 4.5 crore Odias as his own family. “No one can make false accusations against such a person,” they said. “Blinded by its lust for power, the BJP has stooped to a new low, something we never imagined. This is extremely unfortunate and deserves the strongest condemnation”, they said.

Former minister Tukuni Sahu, MLA Barsha Singh Bariha, and former MLAs Dipali Das and Alka Mohanty were among those who criticised the comments, calling them “BJP-instigated and baseless.” Tukuni Sahu said the allegations made by the family of late minister Rajendra Dholakia that Naveen Patnaik and the BJD neglected him are “completely false and deplorable.” “Raju Bhai was a loyal BJD leader for 24 years and was given ministerial posts and key responsibilities. Even after his illness and death, neither Naveen Babu nor the BJD abandoned his family,” she said. Sahu added that it was Naveen Patnaik who had initially proposed Jay Dholakia’s candidature for the Nuapada by-election. “But Jay went to Delhi and sold himself out. Before pointing fingers at Naveen Babu, his mother should answer for her son’s betrayal,” she said.

BJD MLA Barsha Singh Bariha said the party’s support in Nuapada has strengthened after Naveen Patnaik joined the campaign. “This has terrified the BJP, which in desperation has forced Raju Bhai’s family members to speak lies. The people of Nuapada will never tolerate such cheap politics,” she stated. Former MLA Dipali Das accused Jay Dholakia and his family of betraying the BJD. “Naveen Babu was close to Raju Bhai and stood by the Dholakia family during his illness and after his demise. He even attended Jay’s wedding,” she said.

 

 

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