A huge statue of legendary Biju Patnaik on his 99th birth anniversary was unveiled by BJP leader and Rourkela MlA Dilip Ray at Kalinga Vihar, Chhend colony here on Thursday leading to a political spat between Ray’s camp and BJD leader Sarada Nayak’s camp. Though Ray claims there is no politics in installing the statue of Biju, what he said is a mark of his profound respect for the former Chief Minister, but the BJD leaders here are not prepared to take things lying down.
It may be noted here that the statue was installed by Biju Foundation and Ray is its patron. Ray’s spouse is its chairperson and his close aide Harihar Routray is its coordinator who also happens to be a local BJP leader. While unveiling the statue, Ray categorically targeting his critics, said he is emotionally attached to Biju and will continue to do so irrespective of his own party affiliation. He said Biju has been his icon and he owes a lot to the legendary leader. “Those who were showing black flags to Biju once are now doing politics in the name of Biju. On the contrary, people who were close to him and knew about Biju’s dream on Odisha have been sidelined and are not in the Biju Janata Dal (BJD). So the present leaders in the BJD cannot fulfill Biju’s dream, Ray told. He said he would write a biography on Biju and expose the hypocrites who are trying to gain political mileage in his name. The book will contain some startling revelations about his agony, particularly during the last stage of his life. The book will reveal facts about why he was staying away from his family during last stage of his life, Ray revealed.
It may be noted here that during last phase of his life Biju spent nearly one and a half years with Ray, when he was Member of Parliament and Union Minister. Ray also said he will intensify his demand for ‘Bharat Ratna’ to Biju. On the other hand, Biju Jayanti was observed by the BJD just 50 meters away from the big statue in the morning where the formal garlanding to a small statue of Biju was made by the leaders and in evening a public meeting was held where the speakers specifically Sarada Nayak targeted Ray vehemently. Even a leaflet criticising Ray’s attempt to install the statue was distributed in the area. Nayak accused Ray of trying to arrogate the Biju legacy. “Someone who has never bothered to have a statue erected in the name of his father is inaugurating a statue of Biju Babu,” added Nayak.
Meanwhile, another attraction here was sprinkling of flowers from a helicopter on the statue of Biju by the Biju Foundation.