'Unfair': Former VP Venkaiah Naidu responds to BJD’s war room jibe and political controversy

Former Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu has reacted sharply to Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leaders’ statements alleging that Raj Bhawan in Odisha has been turned into a war room for Jharkhand elections.

Recently, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and Venkaiah Naidu visited Odisha and met Odisha Governor. They also stayed at the Raj Bhawan.

Also Read: Odisha Raj Bhawan should be kept out of politics: BJP on BJD’s ‘war room’ jibe 

“In response to some inaccurate comments by certain politicians as appeared in some media reports, the Office of the former Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu, would like to clarify in unequivocal terms that no political colour should be attributed to his visit to any part of the country in general, and to Bhubaneswar, Odisha recently, in particular,” read a press statement issued on Friday.

The former Vice President of India was in Bhubaneswar to attend the convocation of Asian School of Business Management (ASBM) as chief guest as scheduled months ahead. As per protocol, the former Vice President stayed at Raj Bhawan and it is customary for the Governor and other dignitaries to call on the former VP as a courtesy.

“We would also like to inform that no politics were discussed in any of these courtesy calls. No political motives should be ascribed to this courtesy call and dragging the Office of the former Vice President of India into a political controversy of this nature, is patently unfair,” the statement added