BJD MP urges Patil to confer ''Bharat Ratna'' on Biju Patnaik

Bhubaneswar, Jan 6 (UNI) Biju Janata Dal(BJD) MP Brahmananda Panda today urged Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil to confer the highest civilian award of the country ''Bharat Ratna'' posthumously on Biju Patnaik.

In a letter to the Union Home Minister, copies of which were released to the press, Mr Panda said it was really hdiseartening that the country has not paid tributes to Mr Biju Patnaik whose contribution to the freedom struggle of our country and the dynamic role he played for the nation building in post-independence period was unforgettable.

Mr Panda said late Mr Patnaik was very famous for his heroic adventures adding that one of his most memorable dare-devil deeds was the aerial mission to rescue Sultan Sahariyer from house arrest in Indonesia to Delhi for which he was conferred Bhumiputra (Son of Soil), highest civilian honour of Indonesia.

A true son of the soil and versatile personality, Mr Patnaik had helped Republic of Soviet Russia during their crisis and was instrumental in carrying underground freedom fighters like Jaya Prakash Narayan, Aruna Asaf Alli and others from one hide-out to another in his plane as a pilot of British Royal Airforce.

Similarly,during the first Indo-Pak war, Mr Patnaik was the first airman to land his aeroplane on Kashmir soil amidst firing and bombardment, Mr Panda said and described him as true champion of national integrity who had extended his helping hand without slightest hesitation.

As an ardent follower of Pandit Jawaharlarl Nehru, Mr.Patnaik, the BJD MP said seriously took his challenge of building modern India in post independence era.

He was a key player in industrialisation of India and established himself as a top-ranking industrialist of the country.

In his long political career as Member of Legislative Assembly and Parliament, Chief Minister, Opposition Leader, Union cabinet minister, Mr Patnaik had done a yeoman job, Mr Panda remarked.

UNI