Bhubaneswar, April 1 BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Wednesday issued an unconditional apology for his claim that former Odisha Chief Minister Biju Patnaik was the link between Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the CIA during the war against China in the 1960s.
He was criticised within and outside the BJP for the comment.
Speaking on X, the BJP MP said, "Last week, while speaking to the media, an incorrect interpretation was drawn from my remarks regarding the Nehru-Gandhi family's exploits, specifically in reference to the honourable Shri Biju Patnaik ji, a former Chief Minister and one of India's leading leaders".
Dubey stressed that it was his personal view, "My thoughts on Nehru ji were misconstrued as being about Biju Babu. Biju Babu has always been and will remain a towering statesman for us. If my statement has hurt anyone's sentiments, I unconditionally apologise,”