Waqf Amendment Bill: All doesn’t seem well within the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) headed by former chief minister Naveen Patnaik as senior leaders of the regional outfit voiced their objections following the party’s alleged change of stand over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which was passed in Parliament recently. While former minister Bhupinder Singh on Sunday (April 6) described the prevailing situation in the BJD akin to ‘Kalabaishakhi’ (Nor’wester), the party’s deputy leader in the Assembly and former MP Prasanna Acharya suspected the hand of some external force behind the party’s alleged decision not to oppose the Waqf Bill.
The rift seems to be gradually widening with the BJD rank and file denouncing the change of party’s stand which has put its secular credentials at stake. However, Acharya defended the party’s stand, saying there might have been a change in the decision regarding the Bill, but the BJD continues to uphold its secular credentials.
He further explained, “Ours is a secular party, maintaining equal distance from both the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). As a regional party, BJD supports or opposes any issue based on the interests of Odisha.”
Bhupinder Singh, also a former Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Assembly, acknowledged the discontent within the party over the Waqf Bill issue.
“There is discontent within the party, and we must accept it. However, our leader, Naveen Patnaik, is capable of handling the situation. This is just a temporary phase,”” Singh said, adding that Patnaik has always promoted communal harmony without religious discrimination.
