Subramanian Swamy praises Patnaik for pardoning journalist

 Bhubaneswar, Dec 5: A day after the Odisha government pardoned journalist Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy Wednesday lauded Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and the Odisha Assembly for their generosity.

          In a Twitter post, the BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP Swamy said: “The withdrawal of cases against Abhijit and that too after the CJI had rebuked his advocate that Abhijit is safe  in jail, is due to large heart of CM Patnaik and the Odisha Assembly sagacity. Abhijit should learn that four letter foul word is not culture.”

          On Tuesday, the Odisha government had announced its decision to grant pardon to Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, who is lodged in jail for allegedly making derogatory remarks against the state, its people and culture.

          The decision was made following Mitra’s prayer to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to consider withholding sanction to prosecute him in certain criminal cases pending against him.