By Sunil Jena, Editor-in-Chief, The Politics Odia
Bhubaneswar: The political atmosphere inside the Odisha Assembly turned tense on Thursday after BJP MLA Santosh Khatua made a controversial statement claiming that Mahatma Gandhi was responsible for the Partition of India. His remark immediately triggered strong reactions from the Opposition, leading to protests both inside and outside the House.
Members of both the Congress and the BJD staged a silent demonstration near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi inside the Assembly premises. They accused the BJP MLA of disrespecting the Father of the Nation and lowering the dignity of the House. Many leaders said that such statements were unacceptable in a democratic institution where constitutional values should be protected.
Opposition Deputy Leader Prasanna Acharya strongly condemned the remark. He said that insulting Mahatma Gandhi was equivalent to insulting the entire nation. According to him, the BJP MLA’s statement had “polluted the sanctity of the Assembly”. Acharya added that history would never forgive anyone who tries to defame Gandhi for political benefits. He demanded strict action from the Speaker and urged him to take corrective measures to protect the dignity of the House.
Acharya and other Opposition leaders also demanded the suspension of the concerned legislator. They argued that no elected representative should be allowed to make such sweeping and disrespectful statements about national icons.
The political debate intensified when several leaders raised the question of whether such statements are being made to please certain ideological groups. Many asked if criticising Gandhi publicly is seen as a way to align with the expectations of the RSS or other right-wing ideological sections. This angle has added a new layer of controversy to the political discussion.
The BJP has not yet issued a detailed clarification. However, political observers believe that remarks targeting Gandhi always spark wider national debates, especially when they are made inside legislative institutions. The incident has once again brought to light the long-standing ideological differences between political parties regarding India’s freedom movement, the Partition, and the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi.
With the matter now escalating, all eyes are on the Speaker’s decision and the BJP’s official response. For now, the debate continues, and the political temperature remains high in the Assembly.
