– Md. Sami Ahmad
Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar is facing his last chance to win the hearts and minds of Muslims. His anticipated support for Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 will erase all or any goodwill he might be enjoying in the state.
Once a proud ‘Mandalite’, Nitish has the chance to win over the Muslim voters by stalling this Bill by forcing the BJP to withdraw it as the Narendra Modi government is heavily dependent on the support of JD(U)’s 12 MPs in the Lok Sabha.
Nitish claims to have worked for the Muslim community and always seeks support from them. Political observers say the Muslim community supported him in a substantial way for his developmental work and particularly for the support to state Madrasas and the boundary wall work of Qabristans but they are equally peeved at his surrender to BJP on important issues like Triple Talaq and CAA.
The Muslims feel that Nitish has this last chance to take a stand against BJP’s anti-Muslim Waqf (Amendment) Bill. They say it’s important for Nitish’s own independent image also. Once Nitish used to say that he would not compromise on three Cs; Crime, Corruption and Communalism. But of late, he is facing criticism for his abject surrender to the BJP over its communal politics.
Muslims in general and religious leaders in particular are keeping their fingers crossed on the possible move of Nitish as there is no firm indication that his party will try to convince the BJP to withdraw the Bill.
The only glimmer of hope came in August last year when senior JD(U) leader and minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary issued a statement that Nitish was quite sympathetic to the concerns of Muslims regarding the Waqf issue. It was, after the Muslims, particularly JD(U) senior Muslim members, opposed the stand taken by Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh in Lok Sabha.
Lalan Singh not only openly supported the Bill but also tried to convey that Waqf Boards were ‘autocratic.’ Trying to counter the views of MPs opposing the Bill, he said, “Several members are making it sound as if the amendment in Waqf Board law is anti-Muslim. How is it anti-Muslim?”
He dismissed the comparison of Hindu and other religious institutions which don’t allow any member from the other community. He defended the proposed intrusion of non-Muslims in the Waqf Board, saying, “Here an example of Ayodhya is being given… Can you not differentiate between a temple and an institution? This is not an attempt to interfere with mosques. This law is for the institution, to make it transparent.”
After this anti-Waqf and anti-Muslim stand by the JD(U) leader in the Lok Sabha, Muslim intelligentsia ran into action and tried to convince the JD(U) leadership that this would be a disaster for the Muslims and Waqf Properties and the goodwill of Muslims for Nitish Kumar will be lost forever.
The Muslim religious leaders from Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Bihar and Imarat-e-Sharia leaders as well as other organisations’ representatives got a brief opportunity to convey their concerns regarding this Bill to the chief minister. Nitish Kumar at that time (August 21, 2024) said that he was not well informed about the Bill. Muslim leaders tried to meet Nitish once again but they were not provided an appointment with him.
Some of the leaders, hoping against hope, met Lalan Singh and tried to convince him of the disastrous consequences of the proposed Bill but reportedly he was not quite impressed.
Bihar has two Waqf Boards: The Bihar State Sunni Waqf Board and The Bihar State Shia Waqf Board. While the Sunni Waqf Board’s Chairman Mohammad Irshadullah was a bit reluctant to issue any firm statement regarding JD(U)’s stand, Shia Waqf Board’s chairman Syed Afzal Abbas openly opposed the Bill.
Mohammad Irshadullah, who belongs to JD(U), said the Waqf Act had been amended earlier also but the proposed amendments are harsh. He opined that the Muslims were worried about it as it would be fatal.
Syed Afzal Abbas said if the Bill was passed, “We would become a servant from the owner.” Syed Afzal too belongs to JD(U). He claimed to have conveyed deep concerns and opposition to the Bill to Nitish. He even claimed that Nitish said that there would be no injustice to Muslims.
State’s minority development minister Zaman Khan, the only Muslim face in Nitish cabinet, who was originally elected as a BSP MLA and later joined JD(U), seems unclear about his own and the party’s stand on the Bill. However, he said there should not be anything done that could make any community feel uncomfortable. He avoids talking about what his MP Lalan Singh had said in the Parliament.
JIH Bihar President Maulana Rizwan Ahmad Islahi and Coordinator of JIH Bihar Waqf Affairs Committee, Quamar Warsi have made all-out efforts to galvanise support for the withdrawal of the proposed bill. They organised several programmes to inform and convince not only the Muslims but also the right-thinking and secular non-Muslim personalities about the consequences of the Bill. Both of them met the JPC on the Waqf Bill which visited Patna on 18th January 2025 and submitted their deliberation before the JPC chairman.
Similarly, Ameer-e-Shariat Maulana Ahmad Wali Faisal Rahmani took great pains to organise efforts against the proposed Bill and convey their message to the power corridor, including the JPC. Several online meetings were also organised to chalk out the strategies to get this Bill dropped.
Jan Suraj Party chief and election strategist PK (Prashant Kishore) made an interesting comment regarding the role of Nitish Kumar in furthering the Waqf Bill: “If this Bill is passed, Nitish Kumar will be bigger culprit than the BJP. If Nitish Kumar’s 12 MPs decide to oppose this Bill, it will be stopped.” PK said Jan Suraj is against this Bill and this fight against the Bill should be taken to street. He said that if a law is made against the wishes of 20 crore Muslims, it will not succeed.
Meanwhile, all major religious and community organisations are set to stage a huge protest against the Bill at Patna under the banner of All India Muslim Personal Law Board on March 26. An appeal to this regard has been issued by the leaders of various organisations.
