What Sparked the Outrage Over Biju Patnaik's Statue in Odisha?

Statue of Biju Patnaik Set on Fire in Bolangir

Bhubaneswar: Authorities reported that a statue honoring former Odisha Chief Minister Biju Patnaik was set ablaze on Tuesday in Patnagarh, located in the Bolangir district.

Political parties including the BJD and CPI have denounced this act of vandalism.

According to IGP (North Range) Himansu Kumar Lal, a suspect has been apprehended in connection with the incident, who appears to be suffering from mental health issues.

Prominent BJD figure Pramila Mallik expressed her discontent with the state government regarding the increasing frequency of attacks on Biju Patnaik's statues. Former minister Prasanna Acharya stated, "This act not only targets Biju Patnaik's statue but also tarnishes Odisha's pride. Such vandalism will not be tolerated."

BJD leader Sanjay Das Barma noted that these incidents have escalated since the BJP-led state government ceased the observance of Panchayati Raj Day on March 5, which is Biju Patnaik's birthday.

This marks the third incident of its kind recently; earlier in March, a statue of Biju Patnaik was vandalized in the Mahanga area of Cuttack district. Additionally, last month, the color of another statue in Cuttack City was altered. The Bolangir incident is part of a troubling trend, according to BJD representatives.