BJD MP quits House panel protesting disparaging remarks against Biju Patnaik

Sasmit Patra, a BJD Rajya Sabha member, resigned from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on IT and Communications after Nishikant Dubey, its chairperson, made disparaging remarks about Biju Patnaik. Dubey accused Patnaik of being a "link" between the U.S. government, the CIA, and Jawaharlal Nehru, alleging he was involved in setting up a U.S. air base in Odisha. Patra condemned Dubey's remarks as false and disrespectful to Patnaik, a revered leader who served as the Chief Minister of Odisha twice.