– Md.Sami Ahmad
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar faces a crucial moment to retain Muslim support. His backing of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 could erase any goodwill he still holds.
As JD(U) holds 12 Lok Sabha seats, Nitish has the power to force BJP to withdraw the Bill. Despite past support for Muslims, his stance on Triple Talaq and CAA has drawn criticism.
Muslims see this as Nitish’s last chance to oppose BJP’s anti-Waqf Bill and reclaim his independent image. Once firm against crime, corruption, and communalism, he now faces backlash for siding with BJP.
There’s no clear sign JD(U) will push BJP to withdraw the Bill. Last August, JD(U) minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary said Nitish was sympathetic to Muslim concerns, following backlash against JD(U) MP Lalan Singh’s support for the Bill.
Lalan Singh called Waqf Boards “autocratic” and defended non-Muslim involvement. He dismissed comparisons to Hindu religious institutions, arguing Waqf Boards need transparency.
After Singh’s statements, Muslim leaders engaged JD(U) to warn of disastrous consequences. Jamat-e-Islami Hind, Imarat-e-Sharia, and others met Nitish, who claimed he was unaware of the Bill. Later, they were denied further meetings.
Bihar has two Waqf Boards. Sunni Waqf Board’s chairman, JD(U)’s Mohammad Irshadullah, called the Bill harsh but avoided firm criticism. Shia Waqf Board’s Syed Afzal Abbas, also from JD(U), openly opposed it, warning Muslims would lose control over Waqf properties.
Minority Minister Zaman Khan, JD(U)’s only Muslim minister, remained unclear on his stance but said no community should feel uncomfortable.
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind’s Maulana Rizwan Ahmad Islahi and Quamar Warsi led protests, meeting the JPC in Patna on January 18, 2025. Imarat-e-Shariah’s Maulana Ahmad Wali Faisal Rahmani also mobilized opposition.
Jan Suraj Party chief Prashant Kishore criticized Nitish, saying if the Bill passes, he will be a “bigger culprit than BJP.” He urged street protests, arguing laws against 20 crore Muslims won’t succeed.
