Bhubaneswar: As the nationwide debate on the Waqf Bill continues, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the opposition party in the Odisha government, which had categorically stated its opposition to the bill ahead of its presentation in the Lok Sabha, has tweaked its stance shortly before the voting in the Upper House.
The BJD has changed its stance on the Waqf Amendment Bill. An hour after the regional party opposed the bill in the Rajya Sabha, it took a U-turn when MP Sasmit Patra gave a different statement on an X post. He stated that his party had not issued any whip, so members can exercise their conscience while taking part in the voting process.
“The Biju Janata Dal has always upheld the principles of secularism and inclusivity, ensuring the rights of all communities. We deeply respect the diverse sentiments expressed by different sections of the minority communities regarding the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. Our party, having taken these views into careful consideration, has entrusted our honorable members in the Rajya Sabha with the responsibility of exercising their conscience in the best interest of justice, harmony, and the rights of all communities, should the bill come up for voting. There is no party whip,” Patra stated on ‘X’.
The Biju Janata Dal has always upheld the principles of secularism and inclusivity, ensuring the rights of all communities. We deeply respect the diverse sentiments expressed by different sections of the Minority communities regarding the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. Our Party,…
— ଡ଼ଃ ସସ୍ମିତ ପାତ୍ର I Dr. Sasmit Patra (@sasmitpatra) April 3, 2025
About an hour before, BJD’s Rajya Sabha MP Muna Khan said in the Rajya Sabha that the BJD opposes this bill. He said earlier, waqf lands were donated with a good objective to do good work on this land, such as hospitals, madrasas, mosques, graveyards, and kabarstan.
“But the Waqf Boards in every state are being run by Muslims. BJD leader Khan said Muslims across the country are worried about this bill. People are talking about the government interfering in our internal affairs. The government is discriminating against Muslims. Babasaheb Ambedkar said no one should interfere in any religion. We want the waqf land to remain under waqf, under Muslim,” Khan said.
The Waqf Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha yesterday, and a strong debate is ongoing in the country about it. The BJD had earlier said it would oppose the bill in the state.
