BJD claims it's secular amid row over its MPs voting in favour of Waqf Bill

Amid a row over change in stand over voting on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2023, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Friday asserted it is a secular regional outfit and maintains equal distance from the BJP-led NDA and the opposition INDIA block led by the Congress.

- PBD BUREAU/PTI

The party made the assertion after a group of senior leaders led by BJD's advisory committee convener and deputy leader in assembly Prasanna Acharya met party president Naveen Patnaik on Friday evening.

The senior leaders held a detailed discussion with Patnaik on how the party changed stand on the Waqf Bill changed overnight and some BJD MPs voted in support of the bill.

"We had a detailed discussion with party president Naveen Patnaik and he reiterated that the BJD continues to remain secular. There has been no change in the party's stand as far as its secular character is con cerned," Acharya told reporters after the meeting.

He, however, avoided ques tions on how the BJD's stand changed on Waqf Bill despite its parliamentary party's announcement to oppose the legislation in Parliament.

Acharya had himself earlier in the day said that they will take up the matter with Patnaik.

BJD's coordination committee chairman Debi Prasad Mishra, who was also present in the meeting, said, The BJD continues to maintain an equal distance from both the BJP and Congress led fronts. We are a regional party and fight for the interest of the state.