‘Only Cares About Power, Not Ideology’: Tejashwi Tears Into Nitish Over Waqf Bill, Vows To ‘Dump It In Dustbin’
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav attacked Bihar CM Nitish Kumar over the Waqf Amendment Bill. He criticised BJP and its allies for supporting the bill, despite claims of supporting Muslims.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday launched a sharp attack on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over the passage of the Waqf Amendment Bill, accusing “so-called secular parties” of compromising on principles for political gain.
“In this bill, the so-called secular parties and leaders have been exposed. It has become clear that they only do politics for their own power and position, not for the unity of the country, the people, or any ideology,” Tejashwi Yadav said.
Patna, Bihar: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav says, "In this bill, the so-called secular parties and leaders have been exposed. It has become clear that they only do politics for their own power and position, not for the unity of the country, the people, or any ideology..." pic.twitter.com/d6pe5m0YOc
— IANS (@ians_india) April 5, 2025
Tejashwi Yadav, who is also the Leader of Opposition and a former Deputy Chief Minister, disclosed that the RJD has moved the Supreme Court against the legislation, joining other petitioners who have challenged its constitutional validity.
“Our party MPs opposed the Waqf Bill in both Houses of Parliament. It violates Article 26 of the Constitution which deals with the freedom to manage religious affairs,” Yadav said. “This Bill has been brought with the intention of diverting public attention from pressing issues like unemployment and aiding the BJP’s politics of polarisation. But we will not allow its implementation in Bihar. If we form the next government, it will be consigned to the dustbin,” he added.
Accusing the JD(U) of staging a failed attempt to defend the Bill before the Muslim community, he said, “Just look at how the JD(U) forced its Muslim leaders to address a press conference, which was quite a fiasco”.
He also commented on the political dynamics in Bihar, stating, “It appears that photographs of Nitish Kumar at their office will soon be replaced with images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Even a child knows the fate that awaits the Chief Minister after the elections are over.”
The JD(U) press conference concluded shortly before Yadav began his media briefing and was attended by national general secretary Afaque Ahmed Khan, MLCs Khalid Anwar and Ghulam Ghaus, and former Rajya Sabha MPs Ashfaq Karim and Kehkashan Parveen. However, none of the senior leaders addressed the media directly. Only minority cell chairman Afzal Ansari and party spokesperson Anjum Ara read out a written statement lauding the Chief Minister’s efforts for the welfare of Muslims, while accusing RJD patriarch Lalu Prasad of offering only “lip service” to the community. The event ended abruptly, with the leaders leaving without answering questions from the press.
Tajashwi also alleged that the BJP and RSS have historically opposed religious minorities and Mandal Hindus — including tribals, Dalits, and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
“While we were in power, we raised the quotas for deprived castes to 65 per cent. These groups may be numerically large, but their presence in medical and engineering services is negligible. Unfortunately, the Patna High Court quashed the quota hike on petitions filed by BJP supporters,” he said. “Since Nitish Kumar does not seem capable of defending the interests of the depressed classes, the RJD has become a party before the Supreme Court to challenge the high court order.”
Lalu Yadav Said Waqf Law Should Be Made Stricter, Now His Party's Moving Court Against It: Chirag Paswan
Meanwhile, Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan accused the opposition of peddling a false narrative around the Waqf Bill.
“They did the same when the CAA was brought, when Article 370 was abrogated, and when the Ram temple was built in Ayodhya. None of these affected our Muslim brethren adversely,” Paswan told reporters in Hajipur, as per PTI.
He added, “The Waqf Bill draft clearly states that the amendments will not have retrospective effect and no existing Waqf property can be touched. These amendments will actually help Muslim citizens who may be locked in disputes with the concerned Waqf Boards. But the opposition is busy with its own agenda.”
On RJD's move to approach the apex court, Union Minister Chirag Paswan told news agency ANI, "Our Constitution already has a provision that if a person has an objection that they were denied justice, they can go to court. The amendments we made in the Waqf were based on this...because in most cases, they could not go to court, this is what has been amended... Every individual and party is free."
#WATCH | Patna, Bihar: Union Minister Chirag Paswan said, "Our Constitution already has a provision that if a person has an objection that justice has not been done to them, they can go to court. The amendments we made in the Waqf were based on this...because in most cases, they… pic.twitter.com/rW03DNGdlX
— ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2025
"Lalu Yadav himself had said that it should be made stricter—these were his words—but today, when it has been made strict, his own party is talking about going to court. To change your stance from time to time is wrong," he remarked.
JD(U) On Damage Control Over Support To Waqf Amendment Bill?
The Waqf Amendment Bill has been passed in both Houses of Parliament, triggering differences within the Janata Dal (United). Several JD(U) leaders, including minority community members, expressed dissatisfaction, with as many as seven reportedly resigning from the party.
A press conference was convened in Patna on Saturday by JD(U)’s minority cell in an apparent attempt at damage control. However, the effort appeared to fall flat, as several prominent leaders present at the event refrained from speaking or even responding to media queries.
State president of JD(U)’s minority cell Ashraf Ansari and spokesperson Anjum Ara said that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had worked extensively for the upliftment of the Muslim community. “As long as Nitish is there, no one can tamper with the interests of the minority communities,” they claimed.
They added that the JD(U) had extended support to the Waqf Bill only after five of its suggestions were accepted. These included: Land is a state subject and this priority must be retained in the new law; The new law should not be implemented retrospectively; If any property is not registered as Waqf but has a religious structure like a mosque or dargah on it, it should remain untouched; Officers above the rank of District Magistrate should be authorised to resolve disputes relating to Waqf property; and the six-month deadline for digitisation of Waqf properties should be extended.
Anjum Ara said all five suggestions had been accepted. The press conference was also attended by former MP Ahmad Ashfaque Karim, Shia Waqf Board chairperson Afzal Abbas, MLC Ghulam Gaus and Khalid Anwar — all of whom had previously opposed the Bill. However, none of them spoke at the event, leading to speculation that the effort to project unity had failed.
(With Inputs By Shashank Kumar)
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