Waqf voting row will be probed, action will be taken: Naveen
Bhubaneswar: BJD president and former chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday promised to investigate his party’s controversial position on the Waqf Bill in Rajya Sabha, indicating he was not involved in the party’s apparent flip-flop during voting in the Upper House.
The party has come under internal scrutiny for its ambiguous position on the contentious legislation, having initially opposed the Bill, but later allowing members to vote as per their conscience.
When a Muslim delegation, headed by BJD Rajya Sabha MP Muzibulla Khan, met Naveen at his residence on Monday, Naveen said, “I will examine whatever happened in Rajya Sabha and take appropriate action.”
He told the delegation, “You know my party. We have worked for minorities. We have built mosques and churches. We have worked hard. Whatever happened in Rajya Sabha, I will definitely look into it.”
Highlighting BJD’s secular credentials, Naveen cited the example of how his party had snapped the alliance with BJP before the 2009 Lok Sabha and assembly elections in the aftermath of the 2008 Kandhamal riots.
The controversy over the party’s stand on the contentious Waqf Bill deepened when deputy leader of opposition Prasanna Acharya revealed that the party had decided to oppose the Bill in Rajya Sabha, but there was an unexplained last-minute reversal.
“A thorough investigation is necessary to determine who orchestrated this change and under whose direction,” Acharya had said, emphasizing that the party president has acknowledged the issue. He expressed confidence that appropriate action would be taken by the party leadership in due course.
Khan said members of the minority community demanded action against whoever is responsible for the party’s confused stand. “I also told the party president that I was not taken into confidence. He appreciated me saying I have done my duty and assured action soon,” Khan said.
Stating that double standards would not be allowed in the party, Khan said if anyone wants to join BJP, they are free to do so, taking a dig at party members who supported the Bill.
Senior BJD leader Sanjay Das Burma, who was present during the meeting, said the party supremo assured Khan that he would examine the concerns raised by him. “Naveen babu has also made it very clear that BJD’s secular credentials should not be compromised in any way,” Das Burma said.
Khan’s delegation also sought action against BJD MP Sasmit Patra, who shared on social media that party MPs can vote as per their conscience, leading to a split vote. Patra, who was not available for comment, had earlier said he only followed the party leadership’s direction.
The party has come under internal scrutiny for its ambiguous position on the contentious legislation, having initially opposed the Bill, but later allowing members to vote as per their conscience.
When a Muslim delegation, headed by BJD Rajya Sabha MP Muzibulla Khan, met Naveen at his residence on Monday, Naveen said, “I will examine whatever happened in Rajya Sabha and take appropriate action.”
He told the delegation, “You know my party. We have worked for minorities. We have built mosques and churches. We have worked hard. Whatever happened in Rajya Sabha, I will definitely look into it.”
Highlighting BJD’s secular credentials, Naveen cited the example of how his party had snapped the alliance with BJP before the 2009 Lok Sabha and assembly elections in the aftermath of the 2008 Kandhamal riots.
The controversy over the party’s stand on the contentious Waqf Bill deepened when deputy leader of opposition Prasanna Acharya revealed that the party had decided to oppose the Bill in Rajya Sabha, but there was an unexplained last-minute reversal.
“A thorough investigation is necessary to determine who orchestrated this change and under whose direction,” Acharya had said, emphasizing that the party president has acknowledged the issue. He expressed confidence that appropriate action would be taken by the party leadership in due course.
Khan said members of the minority community demanded action against whoever is responsible for the party’s confused stand. “I also told the party president that I was not taken into confidence. He appreciated me saying I have done my duty and assured action soon,” Khan said.
Stating that double standards would not be allowed in the party, Khan said if anyone wants to join BJP, they are free to do so, taking a dig at party members who supported the Bill.
Senior BJD leader Sanjay Das Burma, who was present during the meeting, said the party supremo assured Khan that he would examine the concerns raised by him. “Naveen babu has also made it very clear that BJD’s secular credentials should not be compromised in any way,” Das Burma said.
Khan’s delegation also sought action against BJD MP Sasmit Patra, who shared on social media that party MPs can vote as per their conscience, leading to a split vote. Patra, who was not available for comment, had earlier said he only followed the party leadership’s direction.
