Sat Apr 05 08:20:06 UTC 2025: ## Shiv Sena (UBT) Alleges BJP Attempted to Secure Support for Controversial Waqf Bill
**Mumbai, April 5, 2025** – Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut has accused the BJP of attempting to secure support for the controversial Waqf Amendment Bill from the opposition, including his party. Raut claimed that senior BJP leaders from both Maharashtra and Delhi contacted the Uddhav Thackeray-led party until the last minute to garner support for the bill’s passage.
The Rajya Sabha passed the bill on Thursday, following its approval in the Lok Sabha. Raut alleges that the bill is a thinly veiled attempt to facilitate corruption and transfer ₹2 lakh crore worth of land to BJP-favored industrialists. He further asserted that the BJP exerted pressure on the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) to support the bill, despite the BJD’s ultimate opposition.
Although the BJD allowed its members to vote according to their conscience, Raut stated that his party refused to support the bill. He highlighted the bill’s narrow passage, falling short of 300 votes, suggesting that greater opposition would have materialized had all opposition members been present and healthy.
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