BJD internal rift widens over Waqf Bill controversy | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: The Naveen Patnaik-led BJD faced deepening internal discord as former minister Pratap Jena demanded disciplinary action against party’s Rajya Sabha floor leader Sasmit Patra regarding the controversial Waqf Bill vote.
In a letter to BJD president Naveen Patnaik, Jena alleged a conspiracy behind the party’s last-minute change in position on the legislation. He specifically questioned Sasmit’s social media post stating members were free to exercise their conscience vote on the Bill while the party all along maintained earlier that it would oppose the Bill.
“The sudden change in decision is beyond comprehension,” Jena told TOI. “Our party has always maintained secular credentials, and it was clear for months that we would oppose the Waqf Bill,” he added. Senior BJD leader and former minister Prafulla Samal also sought action against Sasmit.
Meanwhile, BJD Rajya Sabha member Debashish Samantaray, who abstained from voting, criticized the party leadership’s advisers. “Our leader Naveen Patnaik had clearly stated twice that we would oppose the Bill. Those who advised this last-minute change were not working in the party’s interest,” Samantaray said, calling for action against what he termed the “chief adviser” but refrained from naming anyone.
Samantaray said Sasmit can’t be held accountable as he must have worked at the advice of the party’s leadership. Samantaray said the last moment change in party stand had left the party in an embarrassing situation.
Sasmit, who was in Uzbekistan to attend an Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting, could not be contacted for comment on Jena’s allegations. On Friday, he had maintained that he was following party leadership’s directions.
Responding to Jena’s letter to Naveen, BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said, “I think we have honoured the secularism all along. We will continue honouring that. Our party takes care of Muslims, takes care of Hindus, takes care of Christians. Our party is a secular party,” he said.
The controversy has triggered significant unrest within the party, with several veterans approaching Naveen earlier on Friday to express their disapproval of BJD’s stance on the Bill. The BJD leaders in their meeting with Naveen had also sought action against Sasmit and steer clear of the controversial stand, BJD sources said. Naveen is yet to react on the issue.
In a letter to BJD president Naveen Patnaik, Jena alleged a conspiracy behind the party’s last-minute change in position on the legislation. He specifically questioned Sasmit’s social media post stating members were free to exercise their conscience vote on the Bill while the party all along maintained earlier that it would oppose the Bill.
“The sudden change in decision is beyond comprehension,” Jena told TOI. “Our party has always maintained secular credentials, and it was clear for months that we would oppose the Waqf Bill,” he added. Senior BJD leader and former minister Prafulla Samal also sought action against Sasmit.
Meanwhile, BJD Rajya Sabha member Debashish Samantaray, who abstained from voting, criticized the party leadership’s advisers. “Our leader Naveen Patnaik had clearly stated twice that we would oppose the Bill. Those who advised this last-minute change were not working in the party’s interest,” Samantaray said, calling for action against what he termed the “chief adviser” but refrained from naming anyone.
Samantaray said Sasmit can’t be held accountable as he must have worked at the advice of the party’s leadership. Samantaray said the last moment change in party stand had left the party in an embarrassing situation.
Sasmit, who was in Uzbekistan to attend an Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting, could not be contacted for comment on Jena’s allegations. On Friday, he had maintained that he was following party leadership’s directions.
Responding to Jena’s letter to Naveen, BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said, “I think we have honoured the secularism all along. We will continue honouring that. Our party takes care of Muslims, takes care of Hindus, takes care of Christians. Our party is a secular party,” he said.
The controversy has triggered significant unrest within the party, with several veterans approaching Naveen earlier on Friday to express their disapproval of BJD’s stance on the Bill. The BJD leaders in their meeting with Naveen had also sought action against Sasmit and steer clear of the controversial stand, BJD sources said. Naveen is yet to react on the issue.
