Ravenshaw renaming: BJD & Soumya Patnaik take potshots at BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab over his editorial

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Tuesday came down heavily on MP Bhartruhari Mahtab over his editorial on the Ravenshaw University name change issue published in his own local daily. 

BJD MLA Pratap Deb termed the editorial MP Mahtab wrote justifying Ravenshaw University’s name change as unfortunate and went on to say that it is reeking of sycophancy. 

“He is an experienced parliamentarian and representing Cuttack. After reading his editorial, I smelled sycophancy in it. I don’t agree with what he has said about the then-Mayurbhanj king. He (the king) played a pivotal role in forming the new Odisha. He took many epoch-making steps. It won’t be acceptable at all if it is said that personal interests were behind his actions,” said MLA Deb. 

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He has said in his editorial that the king gave a proposal to christen the institution after Ravenshaw which is not mentioned in the documents of that period, he added. 

Joining him, Ravenshaw Heritage Forum’s member Soumya Ranjan Patnaik too took a swipe at Parliamentarian Mahtab. 

Patnaik said he doesn’t agree with what he has said in his editorial.

“Bhartruhari Mahtab is an alumnus of Ravenshaw College and won elections seven times. He is doing injustice. Perhaps, he may have ego problems. I am not subscribing to what he has said in his editorial. He should rethink it. There should be no problem in changing opinions,” Patnaik said.

No reactions were received from MP Bhartruhari Mahtab.