Ranchi (Jharkhand) [India], April 15: The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on Tuesday voiced its opposition to the Waqf (Amendment) Act, asserting that the Centre cannot impose it on states. Speaking to ANI, JMM spokesperson Manoj Pandey said the party had “no support for the Act in any form.”
“We believe this Act is not right. It’s wrong to impose the Waqf Act on states. A resolution has been brought against it,” Pandey said, without specifying when or by whom.
JMM Defends Minister Hafizul Hasan Amid Row Over Shariat Remark
Responding to the controversy surrounding Jharkhand Minister Hafizul Hasan, who recently remarked that “Shariat is above the Constitution” during an interview, Pandey came to the minister’s defence.
“They (BJP) only target individuals when they don’t have any real agenda. Maybe some words were misplaced, but people should focus on the intention behind them. Those creating a fuss over it are being silly,” Pandey said.
Hasan’s remarks were made on the eve of Ambedkar Jayanti, and quickly sparked criticism, particularly from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
BJP Demands Hasan’s Dismissal, Calls Remarks Anti-Constitutional
Leader of Opposition in Jharkhand and BJP leader Babulal Marandi condemned Hasan’s comments, calling them an “insult to the ideals of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.” In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he demanded that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and JMM chief Hemant Soren remove Hasan from the state cabinet.
“Giving priority to Shariat instead of the Constitution is an insult to Babasaheb Ambedkar. If @RahulGandhi and @HemantSorenJMM have even a little faith in the Constitution, they should immediately dismiss Hafizul Hasan,” Marandi wrote.
He further stated that the country will be governed by the Constitution and not by religious laws like Sharia, adding that BJP would launch statewide protests against any attempts to “impose Shariat.”
The row adds another layer of political tension in Jharkhand ahead of key elections, with the BJP positioning itself as a defender of constitutional values, while the JMM is working to protect its coalition and counter BJP’s narrative.