JD(U) Support for Waqf Bill Triggers Resignations of Three Muslim Leaders
Political tremors continue to shake Janata Dal (United) following its support for the Waqf Amendment Bill, with another senior leader from the minority wing, Mohammad Tabrez Siddiqui, resigning from the party.
Patna: Political tremors continue to shake Janata Dal (United) following its support for the Waqf Amendment Bill, with another senior leader from the minority wing, Mohammad Tabrez Siddiqui, resigning from the party.
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Mohammad Tabrez Siddiqui Resigns
Siddiqui, the State General Secretary of JDU’s Minority Wing, expressed his discontent with the party’s stance on the Waqf Bill in a resignation letter to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. In his letter, he wrote: “I never expected JDU to back the Waqf Amendment Bill. I am disheartened by the party’s stance in Parliament. Hence, I resign from the primary membership and all my positions in the party.”
He accused JD(U) of betraying its secular credentials and warned that the party would face consequences in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections later this year. Siddiqui also predicted that there would be an exodus from JD(U) due to widespread dissatisfaction over the issue.
Growing List of Resignations
Siddiqui’s resignation adds to the growing list of minority leaders quitting the party. Among them are Mohammad Kasim Ansari, a former JD(U) candidate from Dhaka (East Champaran), and Mohammad Shahnawaz Malik, a senior JD(U) leader from Jamui. All of these leaders have cited JD(U)’s support for the Waqf Amendment Bill as a betrayal of secular values and a disrespect to the sentiments of Indian Muslims.
Also Read: Congress to Challenge Constitutionality of Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in Supreme Court
In his resignation letter, Ansari expressed deep disappointment over JD(U)’s support for the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Parliament. He said, “Many people in the Muslim community like me had viewed Nitish Kumar as a flag bearer of secularism, but this belief has now been shattered.” He further added, “The way JD(U) supported the Waqf (Amendment) Bill has deeply hurt Indian Muslims and party workers like me.”
Waqf Amendment Bill and Political Reactions
The Waqf Amendment Bill has been passed by both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hailed it as a step toward “socio-economic justice and transparency.” BJP leaders argue that the bill will curb the misuse of Waqf land, benefit poor and backward Muslims, particularly Pasmandas, and introduce greater accountability in Waqf property management.
However, opposition parties and Muslim leaders view the bill as an attack on minority rights, alleging that it is a tool to seize Waqf lands and further marginalize the community under the guise of reform.
