Paperman Media (Bhubaneswar)- The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has strongly condemned the politically motivated remarks made by BJP Member of Parliament Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab against BJD President and former Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik. BJD stated that Shri Naveen Patnaik had merely appealed for the ongoing student agitation in New Delhi to be resolved through democratic dialogue rather than through brutal police action. Any attempt to distort or misrepresent his appeal is highly condemnable. Instead of speaking on the concerns of lakhs of students across the country who are demanding reforms in the examination system and the education sector, it is extremely unfortunate that senior MP Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab chose to target Shri Naveen Patnaik's statement. Addressing a press conference at Sankha Bhawan today, BJD Senior Vice President Shri Debi Prasad Mishra and Vice President and Senior Media Coordinator Shri Pratap Jena said that Shri Naveen Patnaik had condemned the inhuman police action against students who were peacefully protesting in Delhi to highlight their grievances. However, Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab's remarks against Shri Naveen Patnaik, made with clear political motives, are highly objectionable and deserve strong condemnation. Shri Debi Prasad Mishra stated that the unrest witnessed in the national capital has generated deep resentment among the youth across the country. For several months, students have been raising their voices against examination irregularities, repeated question paper leaks, and the uncertainty surrounding their future. Instead of listening to their legitimate concerns and resolving them, the Government remained silent, thereby allowing the situation to worsen. During the last 14 years, nearly 99 examination paper leaks have reportedly taken place across the country, affecting more than 6.5 crore students. The promise of providing employment opportunities to crores of young people has also remained unfulfilled. The ongoing student agitation in Delhi is not an official programme of any political party. Once students came onto the streets to express their concerns, it became the Government's responsibility to engage with them through dialogue and find an amicable solution. Branding protesting students as "anti-national" or as "agents of Pakistan and China" is completely unacceptable. When the Government fails to properly manage the country's education system, the concerned Minister must accept moral responsibility for such failures and resign on ethical grounds. The remarks made by the Hon'ble Member of Parliament from Cuttack against Shri Naveen Patnaik are extremely unfortunate and unbecoming of an elected representative. Describing students who are peacefully presenting their demands as traitors is completely contrary to democratic values. Every citizen, particularly the youth, has the constitutional right to express grievances and expect a responsible response from the Government. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Pratap Jena said that repeated examination paper leaks across the country are pushing the future of students into darkness. Instead of expressing concern over such a critical national issue, Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab has chosen to make political remarks against Shri Naveen Patnaik in an attempt to divert public attention from the real issue. Shri Naveen Patnaik has always stood firmly in support of democratic values and has consistently raised his voice for the interests and welfare of students and the youth. His statement was not politically motivated. He merely appealed to the Government to listen to the students' demands and resolve the issue through democratic means. Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab has represented the people as a Member of Parliament seven times, including six terms as a Biju Janata Dal MP. During those years, he repeatedly praised Shri Naveen Patnaik's leadership. However, after becoming a BJP Member of Parliament, he is now making such politically motivated remarks against him. The Biju Janata Dal demands that Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab immediately withdraw his remarks against Shri Naveen Patnaik and tender an unconditional public apology for his misleading and irresponsible statements.
