ODISHA TO MARCH AHEAD TO TRANSLATE VISIONS OF BIJU INTO REALITY
By Prasanta Patnaik
Bhubaneswar,(17/04/23:Today is the 26th Death Anniversary of Odisha’s legendry leader Biju Patnaik whose contributions for the freedom movement of India, Indonesia and Russia would be remembered for ever.
However a self-styled historian, pilot , aviation expert, journalist and archaeologist, who claims himself as a very close and trusted person of the great leader in the meanwhile had started a vilification campaign against Biju Babu claiming that Biju was in no way connected with rescue of the Indonesian leaders and Gyana Devi had never accompanied him to Indonesia in the rescue operation.
In some self organised interviews to few media who are hostile to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the younger son of Biju Patnaik for unknown reasons such cock and bull stories were planted and circulated. None of his claims were supported with facts or any valid documents.
As this writer, knew Biju Bbau very closely for over 50 years and is associated with two highly credible news portals exposed their vested interests and shady designs.
He and the editors of the portals were threatened with notices for legal actions without mentioning if any factual errors were committed to defame the concerned person.
Withdrawal of the published articles and unconditional public apologies were demanded in the notices. Since no mistakes were committed in reporting and publishing the stories, which were based on facts, such so called legal notices were ignored.
We are in possession of documents to establish that Biju Patnaik who was a M.L.A. of Odisha Assembly had rescued Sjaharir out of indinesia. This was reported in the front page of Times Of India on 23 July, 1947. During shoot of a bio-film on Biju Babu he had also narrated many thrilling stories about his dangerous escapades.
While remembering the greatest leader of Odisha who was a great visionary and had laid the foundation for all round development of the State we pay highest tribute to the great leader and are very much hopeful that his able son Naveen Patnaik to lead Odisha to march further ahead with blessings of his great visionary father Biju Patnaik and Lord Jagannath with support of the people of the State.
