BJD Asks MPs To Vote On 'Conscience' On Waqf Amendment Bill: 'No Party Whip'

BJD will not enforce a whip on its Rajya Sabha MPs on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, allowing them to vote based on their conscience.

The bill was passed after all amendments moved by the opposition members were rejected by voice votes.

Source : Getty

A day after the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) announced that it would oppose the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Parliament, MP Sasmit Patra said on Thursday that it has not issued any whip to its MPs about voting on the matter in the Rajya Sabha. The BJD national spokesperson, Sasmit Patra, said that the MPs will vote according to their conscience. The BJD has seven members in the Rajya Sabha but no members in the Lok Sabha.

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

"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," Patra said in a post on X.

"Our Party, having taken these views into careful consideration, has entrusted our Hon’ble 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," the post read.

On Wednesday, Patra said that the BJD was opposed to some of the provisions in the Waqf Bill, 2024, as its suggestion for changes in the original draft was not accepted. On Thursday, the Lok Sabha passed the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill after over a 12-hour debate, which saw the ruling NDA defending the legislation as beneficial for minorities, while the opposition described it as anti-Muslim.

The bill was passed after all amendments moved by the opposition members were rejected by voice votes. It was passed after a division of votes—288 in favour and 232 against.