New Delhi, April 4 -- Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Friday accused the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) of succumbing to BJP pressures at the last moment, which he believes reduced the numbers opposing the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, bill in the Rajya Sabha.

In a post on X, Ramesh condemned the bill and stated that had the BJD not capitulated to the BJP, the opposition's numbers in Parliament would have been higher.

"The vote in the Lok Sabha on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was 288-232. In the Rajya Sabha, it was 128-95," Jairam said.

"The victory margin for the BJP was small. In fact, in the Rajya Sabha, it was actually a setback for the ruling party, and there was shock on the Treasury Benches that the Opposition mustered up ...