BJD Leaders Demand Motion Towards MP Sasmit Patra Over Waqf Invoice Voting – News18
Final Up to date:
A senior BJD chief, on situation of anonymity, mentioned social gathering leaders representing Muslim-dominated constituencies are nervous following the social gathering’s change of stand on the Waqf Invoice.
BJD MP Sasmit Patra.
A bit of senior BJD leaders on Saturday demanded sturdy motion towards Rajya Sabha MP and nationwide spokesperson Sasmit Patra for “creating confusion” amongst lawmakers forward of the voting on Waqf (Modification) Invoice within the higher home of Parliament.
Patra, additionally the chief of the BJD in Rajya Sabha, is within the eye of the storm after revealing that he had voted in favour of the contentious Invoice.
After the BJD introduced it might oppose the Invoice, and even social gathering MP Muzibulla Khan spoke towards it in Rajya Sabha on April 3, Patra put out a put up on X earlier than voting, stating that social gathering MPs might vote “as per their conscience” and that there was no whip issued to them.
This led to confusion among the many lawmakers, and plenty of senior leaders have raised questions on whether or not Patra might change the choice of Naveen Patnaik, who aside from being the BJD president, was additionally chairman of the parliamentary social gathering.
“I abstained from voting as a consequence of confusion… the social gathering had earlier determined to oppose the Invoice and on the final second, we had been requested to vote as per our conscience,” one other Rajya Sabha MP, Debasish Samantray, mentioned.
He, nevertheless, selected to not blame Patra.
“Sasmit Patra is just not the villain right here. He doesn’t take selections, he merely follows directions. The actual energy lies elsewhere, with the ’chief advisor’,” Samantray informed reporters, indicating an in depth aide of Patnaik.
He refused to disclose the identify of the “chief advisor” and mentioned, “Everyone is aware of who he’s”.
The BJD MP additionally hinted at a “massive deal” between the “chief advisor” and the BJP.
“There was a giant deal. The chief advisor has made some form of association with the BJP. A bureaucrat who has not too long ago taken voluntary retirement could also be a part of this deal. You all know who has not too long ago taken VRS. I depart it to your understanding,” Samantray mentioned.
Senior Odisha cadre IAS officer Sujata R Karthikeyan, the spouse of BJD president Naveen Patnaik’s former shut aide V Ok Pandian, not too long ago took voluntary retirement from authorities service.
Karthikeyan, a 2000-batch Odisha cadre officer, was serving because the particular secretary in Odisha’s finance division.
A minimum of two senior BJD leaders — Prafulla Samal and Pratap Jena — have written letters to Patnaik demanding motion towards Patra for “going towards the social gathering stand by voting in help of Waqf Invoice”.
Additionally, Ganeswar Behera, the sitting MLA of Muslim-dominated Kendrapara meeting phase, additionally criticised Patra, questioning, “Who gave Patra the authority to alter the social gathering president’s choice?” “He has dedicated a mistake for which he’s liable to motion. Solely BJD president has the authority to alter the choice of the parliamentary social gathering and no person else,” he informed reporters, including that this quantities to gross indiscipline.
Each Samal and Jena, of their letters to Patnaik, acknowledged that the BJD continues to combat for the socio-economic growth of minority communities together with Muslims.
“Nonetheless, as an alternative of profitable the belief of the minority communities, such motion of Patra has brought about injury to the social gathering’s picture. Due to this fact, I urge you to take motion as deemed match,” Samal mentioned.
Senior BJD chief and former minister Pratap Jena expressed displeasure over Patra’s motion and termed the transfer “anti-party” and “surprising”.
“Patra’s current social media posts replicate a mindset that contradicts the BJD’s ideological place,” Jena mentioned.
Jena additionally raised suspicion over Patra’s behaviour and demanded an intensive inquiry into the matter.
“We should examine who’s behind this conspiracy and other people answerable for this must be held accountable,” he mentioned, demanding disciplinary motion towards Patra.
BJD MLA and former minister Badri Narayan Patra was extra essential: “This case was a results of a deliberate mischief. How might Sasmit Patra dare to defy the BJD president’s choice and announce on his personal X platform relating to the change of stand? He has put your entire social gathering in a repair and this wants motion.” A senior BJD chief, on situation of anonymity, mentioned social gathering leaders representing Muslim-dominated constituencies are nervous following the social gathering’s change of stand on the Waqf Invoice.
“The Muslims, who represent over 2.17 per cent of the state’s inhabitants, have all alongside supported the BJD. Now, they might change their political affiliation to the Congress. The current scenario has given a unsuitable message to the Muslim neighborhood,” he mentioned.
Although a piece of senior BJD leaders met Patnaik and held discussions on the matter on Friday, the BJD president was but to present any comment on the prevailing political scenario.
Patra couldn’t be contacted as he was on a tour to Tashkent from April 5 to 9 as a part of the delegation of the one hundred and fiftieth Meeting of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
Reacting to the developments, Odisha BJP spokesperson Anil Biswal mentioned, “The current developments point out that Patnaik has misplaced management over his social gathering MPs. He couldn’t impose a whip on them as a result of he doesn’t have command of the social gathering.” On allegations a couple of “deal” between BJD and BJP over the Waqf Invoice, Samal mentioned, “We don’t do offers. Nation is first for us. Individuals nervous in regards to the rights of poor Muslims have supported the Invoice. The seven BJD MPs have been divided into three classes: one who supported the Invoice, those that opposed it and one who abstained from voting. There is no such thing as a unanimity within the BJD.”
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – PTI)
- Location :
Bhubaneswar, India, India
