Bhubaneswar: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has issued notices to two of its Members of Parliament from Odisha — Aparajita Sarangi and Jual Oram — seeking an explanation for their absence during the crucial voting on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha.
The notices, served after the bill was passed in the early hours of Thursday, question the MPs’ non-participation despite a party whip mandating all members to be present. Their absence has sparked concerns about internal discipline and unity within the party ranks at a time when parliamentary attendance was deemed critical.
Sarangi, the Lok Sabha MP from Bhubaneswar, is notably a member of the Joint Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, chaired by MP Jagdambika Pal. Meanwhile, Jual Oram, MP from Sundargarh, currently holds the position of Union Minister for Tribal Affairs in the Modi-led NDA government.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha following a nearly 12-hour-long debate, with 288 members voting in favour and 232 opposing it. Ahead of the vote, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju strongly defended the bill, countering allegations of bias against the Muslim community. He emphasized the difference between Waqf properties and the Waqf Board, addressing concerns over religious interference by non-Muslims.
The bill was subsequently passed in the Rajya Sabha the next day, securing 128 votes in favour and 95 against, after an equally charged debate in the Upper House.
