Bhubaneswar: 28 years after the death of Biju Patnaik, the issue of his ashes’ immersion has resurfaced. The BJD has alleged that the BJP government is conspiring to erase Biju Babu’s legacy. In response, BJP MLA Babu Singh has claimed that Naveen Patnaik never paid attention to his father’s ashes’ immersion. His remarks have stirred further debate, especially after Bijay Mohapatra also commented on the issue.
Ashes Kept at Bijay’s House for 3–4 Years
Babu Singh accused Naveen Patnaik of disliking his father, Biju Patnaik, even during his lifetime. He alleged that after Biju Babu’s demise, Naveen did not take responsibility for his ashes. Instead, his close associate Bijay Mohapatra kept the ashes.
Babu Singh further claimed that Naveen Patnaik neither gave time nor attention to his father’s ashes’ immersion. After waiting for three years, Bijay Mohapatra finally took the ashes to Prayagraj and immersed them.
The controversy has reignited discussions on how much Naveen Patnaik truly respected his father.