The passage of the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Rajya Sabha was described by the BJP government at the Center, but it has had a significant impact on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s party Janata Dal (United).
Five senior JDU leaders have resigned, disagreeing on the party’s support on this bill. The most recent name is Nanin Akhtar, who has finished fifth in the list of leaders leaving the party. Before him, Rajju Nayyar, Tabrej Siddiqui Alig, Mohammad Shahnawaz Malik and Mohammad Qasim Ansari broke away from the party.
Raju Nayyar wrote in his resignation, “I am deeply hurt by JDU supporting this black law, which is about to suppress the Muslim community. I resign from the former JDU youth’s former state secretary and primary membership of the party.” He also said that his resignation should be taken to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Tabrej Siddiqui said in a letter to Nitish Kumar, “The party has broken the trust of the Muslim community.”
Mohammad Shahnawaz Malik wrote, “We were confident that you are a symbol of a secular ideology, but now this faith is broken.” At the same time, Mohammad Qasim Ansari said, “This bill depths the sentiments of millions of Muslims.”
These resignations have not only indicated internal discord in the party, but it is a major setback for JDU when Bihar is expected to have assembly elections in October-November.
Significantly, the Waqf Amendment Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha on Friday in support of 128 votes and 95 protests. The opposition has challenged the bill in the Supreme Court, calling this bill “anti -Muslim” and “unconstitutional”. The Congress and AIMIM have moved the court against it.
