Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), April 4: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has issued notices to Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram and Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi for their absence during the crucial voting on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha.
According to sources, the party has sought a formal explanation from both MPs, who represent Odisha in the Lower House, for failing to attend the voting despite a party whip being issued. All BJP MPs were expected to be present as the bill was considered important by the party.
The absence of the two prominent leaders has reportedly not gone down well with the party leadership, which is said to be taking a serious view of the matter. Aparajita Sarangi, notably, was a member of the Joint Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, chaired by Jagdambika Pal. Jual Oram currently holds the position of Union Minister for Tribal Affairs.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was passed in the Lok Sabha in the early hours of April 3 after an intense 12-hour debate and was later cleared by the Rajya Sabha.
