Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: The sparring among Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leaders over celebration of Biju Patnaik’s birth centenary intensified, with party vice-president Damodar Rout feigning ignorance about the state-level birth centenary event to be organised by the BJD at the Baramunda Sports Ground here March 5.
Rout, who had sparked a controversy by announcing that the birth centenary celebrations would be held at Paradip March 5, Wednesday denied having any information regarding the party’s Baramunda event.
“As we are organizing an event at Paradip for celebration of Biju Patnaik’s birth centenary, I have no idea about the event to be held at Baramunda,” he said. The BJD leader also said that Biju Patnaik does not belong to a single party. The statements raised questions about the coordination committee that has been formed by the party to make the centenary celebrations a grand success in and outside state.
“Damodar Rout is also a member of the committee of which I have been made the convener. Letters have been sent to all leaders of the party regarding the event and he knows about the event,” said BJD MLA Bed Prakash Agarawalla, the convener of the Biju Patnaik birth centenary committee.
Damodar Rout has said he would attend the Paradip event opposition leader Narasingha Mishra and Biswa Bhusan Harichandan of BJP have been invited.
