The Samajwadi Party State committee on Thursday requested President Pranab Mukherjee to direct the Central Government to confer the highest civilian award of the country Bharat Ratna on former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik posthumously.
State committee president Rabi Behera said the contributions of Biju Patnaik to the Indian freedom struggle and later to the nation building are unparallel in history.
Though he deserves a Bharat Ratna but till now it is not conferred on him, he added.
“It is not only an insult to the Odias but also an injustice to a worthy son of the country,” said Behera.
He added, “The National Flags of three countries India, Indonesia and Soviet Russia were flown half-mast in recognition of his contribution, but neither during his lifetime nor even 16 years after his death the award is conferred on him.”