In a belated reaction, the State’s ruling BJD MlAs and MP on Friday criticised the Centre for not conferring the Bharat Ratna on Biju Patnaik and demanded that the nation’s highest civilian award be given to the late former Chief Minister.
The issue was raised at the BJD’s foundation day function here. “We welcome Bharat Ratna to Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Madan Mohan Malaviya. But what was the harm in naming another legendary person like Biju Patnaik for the country’s highest civilian award,” asked BJD MP Prasanna Patsani. Noting that the national flags of three countries were flown half-mast during the funeral of Biju Patnaik in 1997, Patsani said the leader must be given the Bharat Ratna.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who heads the Biju Janata Dal named after his father, however, did not speak on the subject though he was present. Tourism Minister Ashok Panda said, “They (the Centre) have not done right thing. They should not ignore the contribution of Bijubabu.” He even suggested that the most prestigious civilian award should not get politicised.