Bhubaneswar, March 18: Amid ongoing public discussions regarding the funding and intent behind the ‘Biju Naveen Inspirational Foundation’, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday clarified that the trust has been created to support the welfare of the people of Odisha.

Recounting his father and former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik's charitable contributions, Patnaik said, “Biju Babu was known for his charitable activities. At the age of 30, he donated the prestigious Kalinga UNESCO Prize for the popularisation of science.”

He announced that it was his personal initiative to establish new welfare trust.

“As you know my brother, sister and I donated our family home 'Anand Bhavan' in Cuttack to the people of Odisha," said Patnaik.

Detailing his personal initiative, Patnaik said that prior to undergoing a critical neck surgery in Mumbai, he consulted legal and financial experts in Delhi and decided to establish a public trust in his father's name. The trust, he said, was created to support the welfare of the people of Odisha.

“Before going for my serious neck operation, I consulted several eminent lawyers and chartered accountants in Delhi. After these discussions, I decided to establish a trust in Biju Babu’s name for the benefit of the people of Odisha,” said Patnaik.

Emphasising transparency, he added that the trust was launched with a personal contribution of Rs 1 lakh from his own funds.

The former Chief Minister also categorically clarified that no funds from the Biju Janata Dal or any other political party were used. He described as misleading reports circulating in sections of the media.

“I want to clarify these points to media as certain negative stories are appearing,” said Patnaik.