Odishatv Bureau

New Delhi: Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda on Friday met the speaker of the Lok Sabha Sumitra Mahajan and submitted a demand memorandum seeking installation of a statue of the legendary leader and former chief minister of Odisha Biju Patnaik in the premises of the Parliament.

Panda in his memorandum highlighted Biju Patnaik’s achievements and contribution as a pilot, freedom fighter, industrialist and politician. Citing Biju Patnaik’s contribution to the freedom movement of Indonesia, Panda also noted that the legendary leader from Odisha was commemorated by the Indonesian government on its 50th Independence Day celebrations.

Voicing similar demands in the Upper House, BJD’s Rajya Sabha member Dilip Tirkey also sought installation of Biju Patnaik’s statue in the Parliament premises and Bharat Ratna for the legendary leader.

“As a tribute to the great leader, a statue of Biju Patnaik should be installed on the premises. The demand for Bharat Ratna for Biju Patnaik has already been made in the House. I, on behalf of BJD and the people of Odisha, urge the central government to set up a statue of the leader in Parliament,” said Tirkey in Rajya Sabha.

scrollToTop