In Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Puri BJD MP Pinaki Misra recalled the gallantry of former Chief Minister late Biju Patnaik in saving Srinagar and Kashmir from hands of Pakistani invaders in 1947.
Misra said the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had sought help from Biju Patnaik, who flew multiple sorties and took several batches of soldiers to Srinagar on October 27, 1947. He urged the Union Government to honour Biju Patnaik with the Bharat Ratna award.
“In the past, we had urged the Government to recognise the tremendous qualities of Biju Babu by giving him Bharat Ratna. Unfortunately, it has not happened,” he said.
Misra drew the attention of Defence Minister and other Ministers present in the Lok Sabha in this regard.