Munna Khan seeks clarification from Naveen Patnaik over BJD's u-turn on Waqf Bill vote

Bhubaneswar, April 7: Amid mounting controversy surrounding the BJD's unexpected support for the Waqf Bill in the Rajya Sabha, the party’s lone Muslim MP Muzibulla Khan—popularly known as Munna Khan—is set to meet BJD president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik on Monday.

Speaking to the media after reaching Bhubaneswar, Khan expressed dismay over the party’s sudden shift in stance. “In our Parliamentary Board meeting, it was unanimously decided that BJD would oppose the Bill. This wasn’t an informal conversation—it was a clear directive from our leader Naveen Patnaik himself,” Khan said.

Referring to his participation in a protest rally against the Bill and the submission of a memorandum to the Governor, Khan emphasized that the party’s position was reinforced even during the Iftar event by the leadership.

Khan also slammed fellow MP Sasmit Patra for endorsing the Bill, stating that such contradictory statements damage party unity and mislead the public. He accused Patra of ignoring his calls and asserted that such deviations must be addressed.

“People are confused and disappointed. I will request the party president to clarify the party's stand and take appropriate action. We need consistency and discipline on such sensitive issues,” he concluded.