Biju Patnaik’s tirade drew uncommon criticism, however here is why Nishikant Dubey is ‘indispensable’ to the Bharatiya Janata Occasion

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The four-term MP has typically been within the information, particularly for his provocative feedback towards the Gandhi household and assaults on opposition leaders similar to Lok Sabha Opposition Chief Rahul Gandhi and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

And it is not simply the opposition events. The firebrand chief’s remarks towards Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath additionally triggered controversy. Moreover, he I as soon as did a jive The assault on the Marathi neighborhood prompted Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to intervene and take harm management measures.

Nevertheless, the favoritism in direction of Dubey amongst higher administration has not waned through the years. Final month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi heaped reward on him at a parliamentary occasion assembly, saying he was an instance of the right way to conduct himself within the Home.


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Biju Patnaik Row

In a broadside in “X” within the Nineteen Sixties during which he referred to the Nehru-Gandhi household as “America’s brokers,” Mr. Dubey additionally dragged within the late Biju Patnaik, often called “Kalinga Putra.”

“Biju Patnaik, then chief minister of Odisha, was the conduit between the US authorities, the CIA and Nehru. Even the officers had been conscious of this,” stated the 57-year-old Bharatiya Janata Occasion MP.

His feedback didn’t go down properly with occasion members, together with senior BJP chief Baijayant Panda from Odisha.

Panda described “Uncle Biju” as “not solely the tallest chief in Odisha at the moment, but additionally an excellent character among the many nation’s leaders.” It added: “Accusing his patriotism is fanciful and patently ridiculous. Such assaults towards him are nugatory, ignorant and utterly unacceptable.”

The Odisha authorities additionally strongly condemned Dubey’s assertion, calling it “unacceptable” and “deeply hurtful.” Legislation Minister Prithviraj Harichandan stated his feedback had been “utterly private opinions” and didn’t replicate the federal government’s place.

Dubey’s remarks sparked nationwide outrage and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) went on strike from the Rajya Sabha in protest towards the remarks. That too demanded an unconditional apology From Dubey.

“There are numerous individuals who goal Gandhi, however Dubey’s model and diligence in elevating points and literature associated to Nehru and Gandhi is unparalleled,” the Bharatiya Janata Occasion chief stated.

Because the controversy persists, the Bharatiya Janata Occasion’s central management additionally distances itself from Dubey.

Sources stated the central management was dissatisfied along with his feedback and had been pressuring him to situation a public apology.

In a separate letter to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, PM Modi hailed Biju Patnaik as a logo of braveness and nation-building and underlined the emotional weight of the previous chief minister’s legacy within the state.

Dubey lastly issued a public apology on Wednesday, saying his statements had been his private views and that his feedback had been misunderstood.

On Wednesday, in a put up on

“My Ideas on Nehru character It was misunderstood that it was about Bijou. bub. Bijou bub He has been and can proceed to be a terrific politician for us. If my phrases damage anybody’s emotions, I apologize unconditionally.”

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(From left) Orissa Chief Minister Biju Patnaik and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru attend the opening ceremony of Paradip Port on January 3, 1962. Picture: Nehru Archive

The apology got here after Dubey’s earlier clarification didn’t mollify the BJD.

Dubey stated his remarks had been a part of a collection on the ‘Nehru-Gandhi household’, including that Biju Patnaik was a ‘tall freedom fighter’.

“Once more, I’m publishing a collection on the conduct of the Nehru-Gandhi household. Please inform me, which allegations of Biju Babu did I deliver up in my tweet?” Dubey requested.


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“He’ll be again.”

Occasion leaders say Mr. Dubey could also be out of whack, however he’s definitely not out of workplace. Many throughout the occasion consider he’ll return to his normal one-liners and social media posts.

A senior Bharatiya Janata Occasion official stated that whereas Dubey is definitely “controversial”, he has additionally emerged as an “indispensable determine” throughout the occasion.

One cause cited by one other occasion official is that Dubey is extensively seen as a Modi-Shah supporter.

“Many individuals goal Gandhi, particularly within the Congress, however the method and diligence with which Dubey raises Nehru and Gandhi-related points and literature is unparalleled. He at all times comes ready with details and figures and his statements are even defamatory at occasions,” stated a senior occasion official.

In an interview, Mr. Dubey stated that Prime Minister Narendra ModiMazboriAs a result of with out him, they won’t be able to win even 150 seats within the 2029 Sabah state election.

File photo. |Prime Minister Modi last month praised Dubey at a parliamentary party meeting, saying he was an example of how to conduct himself in the House. |Ani
File picture. |Prime Minister Modi final month praised Dubey at a parliamentary occasion assembly, saying he was an instance of the right way to conduct himself within the Home. |Ani

The remarks got here within the backdrop of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s assertion that leaders ought to step down after reaching the age of 75.

Dubey is intently related to controversy, as he’s additionally one of many few leaders to overtly problem Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Given Mr. Adityanath’s rising recognition, with some events predicting him to be Mr. Modi’s successor, Mr. Dubey stated in an earlier interview that individuals didn’t vote in Mr. Adityanath’s title within the 2017 meeting elections.

He added that though the occasion had some widespread leaders similar to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Residence Minister Amit Shah, there was no query of one other chief in Delhi till PM Modi was alive.

Dubey’s utilization outweighs his excesses.

For instance, at a time when the Modi authorities was escalating over its dealing with of the 2020 Ladakh battle, after Congress chief Rahul Gandhi repeatedly tried to cite from former military chief Normal MM Naravane’s unpublished guide in Parliament, Dubey arrived with a letter written by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, questioning his shut ties with the Mountbattens and utilizing it to focus on the Congress.

Dubey additionally claimed that TMC MPs took bribes from businessman Darshan Hiranandani for elevating parliamentary questions concentrating on the Adani Group, and was additionally instrumental in expelling MP Mahua Moitra from Parliament in 2023.

The “money for questions” episode rocked Congress, and Moitra filed a defamation swimsuit towards Dubey, which was concluded in Could 2025 after Dubey deleted the allegedly defamatory social media posts.

BJP spokesperson RP Singh informed ThePrint that what distinguishes Dubey from others is the truth that he “brings (newer) views and historical past that had been buried deep until date because of political points.”

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“His combative strategy has positively triggered some ripples within the political class, however he at all times has the details. Most people loves him for the content material he brings and the truth that he flaunts it however by no means lashes out, even when he seems combative. Some might have an issue with that,” Singh added.

USP: “Communicate your thoughts”

Dubey began his political profession with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the scholar wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

He holds a PhD in Enterprise Administration and an MBA diploma. After spending a while within the company sector, he entered energetic politics in 2009 and has since been elected to the Lok Sabha from Godda in Jharkhand 4 occasions in a row.

“Generally he (Nishikant Dubey) assaults people and makes use of language that’s disrespectful,” the Bharatiya Janata Occasion chief stated.

Many throughout the BJP say “talking your thoughts” is Dubey’s USP and the problems he raises are typically well-researched, if controversial.

“He has raised many points on social media, particularly towards the politics of Islamic appeasement that the Congress, the Gandhi household and lots of political events and people are indulging in,” stated a senior Bharatiya Janata Occasion official.

“If he is so fallacious, why do not folks file defamation lawsuits towards him? It is simply that he is typically politically incorrect and calls a spade a spade,” the chief added.

Dubey was by no means one to shrink back from controversy.

In early February, he slammed Indians dwelling in Dubai whereas mocking Indians stranded within the UAE, which has been attacked within the Iran-US-Israel battle.

“The lesson for many who go away their Indian passports behind and go to Dubai is that with Modiji right here, we’re secure. It is easy to put up lengthy issues on social media,” Dubey informed X.

The BJP once more rapidly condemned the put up, albeit not directly.

“A budget feedback towards the UAE by some in India are condemnable at a time when the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is underneath assault.”Many within the occasion have identified that Mr. Dubey’s ‘overeagerness’ to attain factors typically will get him into hassle,” Bharatiya Janata Occasion’s exterior affairs chief, Vijay Chauthaiwale, wrote in X.

Different leaders expressed related opinions.

“He’s a senior parliamentarian and naturally he must be extra cautious and cautious when commenting or posting his ideas on social media. Generally he assaults people and makes use of language that’s disrespectful,” added one other chief.

A senior Bharatiya Janata Occasion official stated the controversy was a manner for Mr. Dubey to remain within the information and keep his profile whereas confronting key opposition figures inside and outdoors Parliament.

“Throughout essential debates, he’s typically given time to talk by the occasion. He has emerged as a assured and forceful voice inside successive Bharatiya Janata Occasion management and these controversies have solely helped him quite than damage him,” a senior occasion official stated.

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repeating row

Dubey’s feedback on Biju Patnaik are the most recent in a collection of controversies.

In September 2022, a significant controversy erupted when the Deogarh police in Jharkhand registered an FIR towards Dubey, one other BJP MP Manoj Tiwari and others for allegedly coming into the air visitors management (ATC) room at Deogarh airport with out permission.

The FIR alleged that Mr. Dubey and Mr. Tiwari pressured air visitors management officers to acquire clearance after the clearance time, however they denied the costs.

“These controversies have solely helped him (Dubey) quite than hurting him,” stated a senior Bharatiya Janata Occasion official.

In April final yr, Dubey accused the Supreme Courtroom of “main the nation into anarchy” and stated, “Indian chief minister Sanjiv Khanna is chargeable for the civil conflict that’s happening in India.”

The BJP instantly distanced itself from his feedback, calling them his private views.

In one other case, Dubey triggered a stir final yr when he recommended that Congress’s presence can be meaningless if the Supreme Courtroom needed to legislate.

The then occasion president JP Nadda distanced himself from his feedback and rejected them as a private view, including that the BJP has at all times revered the judiciary and fortunately accepted its recommendations and orders because it believes that each one courts, together with the Supreme Courtroom, are an integral a part of the nation’s democracy.

Nevertheless, simply hours after Nadda’s accusation, Dubey launched a scathing assault on former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) SY Quraishi, labeling him as a “Muslim commissioner and never an election commissioner” for his criticism of the Waqf (Modification) Act.

That is not all.

In March final yr, Dubey additionally claimed that Jharkhand’s “Islamization” had lowered Jharkhand’s tribal inhabitants from 45% to twenty-eight%, and spoke of the necessity for the Jharkhand Nationwide Register of Residents (NRC) to oust what he referred to as “unlawful Bangladeshi immigrants.”

This was in step with the demand in Congress for the institution of NRC in Jharkhand, citing the sharp decline within the tribal inhabitants of Santal Parganas between 1951 and 2011 census.

In September 2024, he expressed concern over the alarming variety of suggestions submissions (roughly 1.25 billion) on the Waqf (Modification) Invoice and referred to as for an investigation by the Ministry of Residence Affairs into Pakistan’s ISI and the doable position of China, citing the potential of overseas interference within the public session course of.

Regardless of being on the middle of a number of controversies, occasion leaders say Dubey stays an essential determine for the occasion.

Mr. Dubey didn’t reply to ThePrint’s makes an attempt to contact him through telephone and textual content message for remark.

(Edited by Katyal Sugita)


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