By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: No respite for former Tamil IAS couple, BJD Supremo Naveen Patnaik’s Man Friday, VK Pandian and his wife Sujata Kartikeyan. Dissident BJD leaders and workers shouted glogans like VK Pandian go Back, save BJD barged into Naveen Niwas , where they vent their anger. Shouting VK Pandian Murdabad, BJD workers served an ultimatum.
Trouble underway in Biju Janata Dal over its stance on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, the party’s Rajya Sabha MP Munna Khan on Monday met party chief Naveen Patnaik to discuss the matter, days after BJD’s Rajya Sabha MP Dr Sasmit Patra supported the bill in Parliament.
On BJD MP Dr Sasmit Patra voting in favour of the Waqf Amendment Bill, BJD MP Muzibulla Khan says, “Even I dont know why he did that. There has been no change in instructions given by our leader Navin Patnaik, so only Sasmit Patra can explain why he did that,’
Khan, along with several members of the minority community, called on Patnaik at his residence, Naveen Niwas. The delegation voiced concern over the matter and demanded action against those who went against the party’s stand.
Several BJD leaders have expressed their dissent over the Naveen Patnaik-led party’s inconsistent stance on the bill and attacking VK Pandian since past few days.
BJD MP Debashish Samantaray, who remained absent on voting day, had already defended BJD MP Dr Sasmit Patra, stating that Dr.Patra was merely following instructions. “Sasmit Patra is not the villain here. He does not take decisions; he merely follows instructions. The real power lies elsewhere — with the Chief Advisor,”
For the first time, V K Pndian, who is a close aide of Naveen Patnaik and his former private secretary facing the ire of the BJD supporters following the party’s sudden U-turn on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which was passed in both houses of Parliament and implemented as a law.
