Double standards won’t be tolerated: BJD MP Munna Khan criticizes Sasmit Patra over Waqf Bill vote

Tensions within the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) escalated on Monday as senior Rajya Sabha MP Munna Khan publicly criticized fellow MP Sasmit Patra for his actions related to the Waqf Bill vote. Accusing Patra of going against the party's official decision and misleading the public, Khan warned that “double standards will not be tolerated” in the party.

Addressing the media soon after landing in Bhubaneswar, Munna Khan expressed deep disappointment with Sasmit Patra’s conduct, especially after Patra took to social media to state that his vote on the Waqf Bill was made “after careful personal consideration and conscience.” This, according to Khan, stands in direct contradiction to what had been collectively agreed upon by the party during an internal meeting.

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“During the Parliamentary Board meeting, it was clearly decided that the BJD would oppose the Bill. This was not a vague discussion — it was a clear and unanimous decision, and even our party president Naveen Patnaik himself had instructed us to vote against it,” Khan said.

He further questioned Patra’s motive behind publicly supporting the bill after the vote, alleging that such individual decisions not only go against party discipline but also confuse the public and hurt the sentiments of minority communities.

“If anyone wants to join the BJP, they are free to go. No one is stopping them. But don’t act like you are with BJD and speak the language of another party. This double-faced politics has no place in BJD,” Khan warned.

Khan revealed that he had attempted to speak to Sasmit Patra directly about the matter. “I called him to ask why he went against the party’s decision, why he tweeted in support of the bill. But he didn’t take my call,” Khan said, expressing disappointment over Patra's lack of communication. He also criticized Patra’s conduct, stating that it has deeply hurt "our minority brothers and sisters", especially those who look up to the BJD for its secular and inclusive stance.

“This kind of behaviour, especially on sensitive issues like the Waqf Bill, sends the wrong message. It has caused pain to many, particularly in minority communities,” he added. Munna Khan has vowed to take the matter directly to BJD president Naveen Patnaik, stating that he will personally inform the party chief about the sequence of events and urge him to take action. 

“Naveen Babu needs to be informed. The party must stand united with clarity, not confusion. We cannot afford to have different leaders speaking in different voices on such important issues,” Khan stressed.