Muslim Body In Bihar Turns Down CM Nitish Kumar's Invite For 'Iftaar' Over Support For Waqf Bill
The Imarat Shariah, a Muslim body, declined Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Iftaar invitation due to his support for the Waqf Bill, which it deemed harmful to Muslims.
Patna, Mar 22 (PTI) A prominent Muslim body in Bihar on Saturday announced that it was turning down Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's invitation for 'Iftaar', in protest against his "support" for Waqf Bill.
The Imarat Shariah, which claims to have followers across Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha, shared a copy of the letter in response to the invitation for the 'Iftaar' that is to be held at chief minister's residence on Sunday.
The letter says, "A decision has been taken not to attend the government (sarkaari) Iftaar on March 23.....this decision has been taken in view of your support for the Waqf Bill, which threatens to worsen economic and educational backwardness of Muslims".
"You rose to power promising a secular (dharm-nirapeksh) rule in which minorities' rights were protected. But your alliance with the BJP and your support for a legislation that is unconstitutional and illogical, militates against your stated commitments", alleged the Imarat Shariah.
Describing the Iftaar organised by the chief minister as "tokenism", the Imarat Shariah added, "Your government's indifference towards concerns of Muslims render meaningless such formal gatherings".
There was no immediate response to the development from Kumar or his party JD(U), which has always banked on a slice of Muslim votes, cashing in on "secular" credentials of the leader.
The party shares power with the BJP at the Centre as well as the state, where assembly polls are due later this year.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind slams Nitish, Naidu, Chirag for siding with govt on Waqf bill
(PTI) Prominent Muslim organisation Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind on Friday said it would boycott all programmes of NDA constituents -- Nitish Kumar's JD(U), Chandrababu Naidu's TDP and the Chirag Paswan-led LJP (Ramvilas) -- alleging that they were engaging in politics against Muslims.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani said those calling themselves secular and part of the current National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government were silent on the "oppression and injustice" being meted out to Muslims.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind will not only avoid such people as a symbolic protest but also not participate in programmes such as 'iftar', Eid Milan and other events organised by them, he said.
Madani emphasised that the current situation in the country, and the cruel and unjust treatment being faced by minorities, especially Muslims, was no longer hidden from anyone.
"But it is truly a matter of great regret that those who call themselves secular and claim to be well-wishers of Muslims -- whose political success has also been influenced by the support of Muslims -- are now engaging in politics which is not only against Muslims but also against all justice-loving people of the country," he said.
Madani said leaders such as Kumar, Naidu and Paswan, in their pursuit of power, were not only siding with communal forces against Muslims but also supporting the destruction of the country's Constitution and laws, "pushing the nation toward ruin".
"What is the compulsion here? Do they not see the impending destruction of the country? And do they, like the communal forces, no longer see any importance in the Constitution and secularism?" he asked.
"Their deplorable attitude towards the Waqf (Amendment) Bill has exposed their so-called secular face. They have no regard for the country's Constitution or secularism; their political interests are their priority," he said.
"They have no sympathy for Muslims; they seek their votes, which help them attain power, and, once in power, they push Muslims out of their priorities. Therefore, the time has come for us to express our displeasure by not participating in their programmes as a symbolic protest," Madani said.
He also appealed to other religious organisations, institutions and individuals to refrain from participating in their programmes, even if it was just an 'iftar' party.
His remarks came after the Parliament's joint committee submitted its report on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. The proposed legislation could be brought for passage in Parliament during the ongoing Budget Session.
The 31-member panel on the Bill, after multiple sittings and hearings, suggested several amendments to the proposed legislation even as the opposition members disagreed with the report and submitted dissent notes.
The 655-page report was submitted to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on January 30.
The joint committee adopted the report that contained changes suggested by members from the ruling BJP by a 15-11 majority vote. The move prompted the opposition to dub the exercise an attempt to destroy Waqf boards.
The Bill was referred to the joint committee on August 8 last year, following its introduction in the Lok Sabha by Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju.
(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)
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