Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik broke his silence on Wednesday regarding the controversy surrounding the ‘Biju Naveen Inspirational Foundation’, a charitable trust established in the name of his late father, Biju Patnaik.
Addressing the media, Patnaik explained that the trust was formed during a personal health crisis, just before he underwent a serious neck (cervical spine) surgery in Mumbai in June 2025. Prior to the operation, he visited Delhi to seek advice from legal and financial experts on establishing a public charitable trust.
“I decided to open a trust in Biju Babu’s name for the benefit of the people of Odisha,” Patnaik stated. He highlighted his father’s legacy of philanthropy, including the establishment of the Kalinga UNESCO Award to promote science, and noted that he and his siblings had previously donated Anand Bhawan in Cuttack for public use.
The former Chief Minister emphasized that the foundation was initiated with his personal contribution of Rs 1 lakh and has no connection whatsoever with the BJD or any other political party.
“No funds from the Biju Janata Dal or any political party will be used for the trust,” he clarified, adding that it is solely dedicated to the welfare of Odisha’s people.Patnaik described the clarification as necessary due to “negative stories” and misleading reports circulating in certain sections of the media about the trust’s formation and purpose.
The trust, registered in New Delhi on May 9, 2025, has drawn scrutiny recently, particularly after documents surfaced and allegations were raised by some former BJD members regarding its intent, registration location, and possible links to party figures.
