Odisha: Ex-VP Venkaiah Naidu Calls ‘Unfair’ BJD’s War Room Remark

Bhubaneswar: Veteran leader and former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has reacted to the statements of Biju Janada Dal (BJD) leaders alleging that Odisha Raj Bhavan became a war room for Jharkhand elections. His office has termed the remarks unfair.

Notably, some BJD leaders made the allegation after Venkaiah Naidu and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited Odisha Raj Bhavan in Bhubaneswar recently.

“In response to some inaccurate comments by certain politicians as appeared in some media reports, the Office of the former Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu, would like to clarify in unequivocal terms that no political colour should be attributed to his visit to any part of the country in general, and to Bhubaneswar, Odisha recently, in particular,” a press statement issued by the ex-VP’s office said.

The former Vice President was in Bhubaneswar to attend the convocation of Asian School of Business Management (ASBM) as chief guest as scheduled months ahead, it said.

As per protocol the former Vice President stays at Raj Bhawan and it is customary for the Governor and other dignitaries to call on the former VP as a courtesy. We would also like to inform that no politics were discussed in any of these courtesy calls.

“No political motives should be ascribed to this courtesy call and dragging the Office of the former Vice President of India into a political controversy of this nature, is patently unfair,” the statement added.