The Biju Smruti Committee headed by its convener Amita Acharya has submitted a memorandum to the President and the Prime Minister through dist Collector lN Mishra demanding Bharat Ratna for Biju Patnaik posthumously.
A team consisting a senior most lawyer and social activist Nirakar Jena, advocate Giridhari Nath, BJD youth leader Pranab Das, Ashok Kumar Nayak, Abhaya Ratha ,Ghanasyam Sethi, Golak Prasad Ray, Golak Das, Dr Rabinarayan Mohapatra, Dr Gobind Prasad Mohapatra, Afsara Begam and Jati Kanta Nayak said that Biju deserves the Bharat Ratna very much.
The memorandum cited that Biju brought immense development in Odisha by industrial establishments, Kalinga Tubes, Kalinga Industries, OTM, Choudwar etc.
Biju introduced Kalinga Prize in the UNO by depositing a big sum which is given to eminent scientists and social activists every year.