Tejashwi Yadav, the INDIA bloc’s chief ministerial face for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, ignited a major political row on Sunday by declaring that his government would “throw the Waqf Act into the dustbin” if voted to power.
Addressing rallies in the Muslim-majority Seemanchal districts of Katihar and Kishanganj, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader accused Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of continuously supporting communal forces and claimed the BJP should be called the ‘Bharat Jalao Party’ for spreading communal hatred. He framed the promise to overturn the law as part of a fight to protect the Constitution and brotherhood.
The controversial law, the Waqf (Amendment) Act, was passed by Parliament in April. While the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has hailed it as a reform to ensure transparency and empower backward Muslims and women, the Opposition has consistently criticized it, alleging it infringes upon Muslim rights and autonomy.
The statement drew immediate and sharp criticism from the BJP. National spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain condemned the RJD’s comments, asserting that the law was passed by the central Parliament and approved by the Supreme Court, accusing the RJD of making statements “to mislead the public.” BJP MP Manoj Tiwari also slammed Yadav, questioning how a state government could override a central law passed in Parliament.
The controversy was initially sparked a day earlier when RJD MLC Mohammad Qari Sohaib claimed that if Tejashwi Yadav became CM, “all bills will be torn apart, including the Waqf bill.” Even Tejashwi’s elder brother, Tej Pratap Yadav, cautioned against creating an atmosphere where Muslim brothers are targeted.
The Bihar Assembly elections, set for November 6 and 11, with results on November 14, will see a direct contest between the ruling NDA and the Mahagathbandhan (INDIA bloc) led by Tejashwi Yadav.