The BJD on Thursday demanded an immediate apology from BJP spokesperson Lekhashree Samantasinghar for trying to demean Odisha before an international audience.

BJP spokesperson Samantasinghar on Thursday tweeted that Odisha had paid Salman Khan Rs 1.89 crore to bring him to Bhubaneswar to promote chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s image.

The BJP leader tweeted: “Someone tell Naveen this is Rs 1.89 crores of our hardearned money not his father’s property that he can give away 2 save his dying image”

Reacting to it, the BJD said a tweet by Samantasinghar about expenses of Salman Khan being paid by the state was completely false and baseless. The expenses were paid by Hockey India and they have clarified that the sponsors had paid the amount.

“The state government has not spent one rupee in this regard. We demand her apology for insulting the state, chief minister Naveen Patnaik and Biju babu. It shows the immaturity and jealousy of the BJP due to the success of the inaugural ceremonies of the hockey World Cup. The BJP leaders are bent upon showing Odisha in a bad light for their cheap, selfish political reasons.”

The party said: “Instead of joining the people in celebrating the success of Odisha on the global sporting arena, they are trying to demean Odisha before an international audience. This is utterly shameful and we demand an immediate apology from her as already stated.”