On Thursday, two high-ranking members of Janata Dal (United) stepped down from the party, citing a disagreement regarding its backing of the Waqf (Amendment Bill). Late last night, the Lok Sabha passed the bill, with one of its supporters being JD(U), a partner of the National Democratic Alliance.
In individual letters to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Mohammed Qasim Ansari and Mohammed Nawaz Malik stated that they had “lost all trust” of Muslims who thought the party was secular. In Hindi, Ansari expressed, “I feel disheartened that I devoted multiple years of my life to the party.” In the meantime, Malik stated that the Waqf bill infringes upon numerous fundamental rights specified in the Constitution.
“I would like to say with due respect that millions of Indian Muslims like us had unwavering faith that you are the flag bearer of a purely secular ideology. But now this belief has been broken. Millions of dedicated Indian Muslims and workers like us are deeply shocked by the stand of JD(U),” Ansari said in his resignation letter. Ansari said the Waqf Bill was “against Indian Muslims” and could not be accepted “under any circumstances.” “This bill violates many fundamental rights of the Constitution. Through this bill, Indian Muslims are being humiliated and insulted… Neither you nor your party realises this. I regret that I gave many years of my life to the party,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Nawaz Malik, who serves as the state secretary of JD(U)’s Minority Front, has also stepped down in anger over the party’s backing of the Waqf Bill. In his resignation letter to Nitish Kumar, Malik wrote, “Millions of Indian Muslims had unwavering faith that you are the flag bearer of a purely secular ideology. But now this belief has been broken. The stance taken by JD(U) on the Waqf Amendment Bill has deeply hurt dedicated Indian Muslims and party workers like us. We are disheartened by the way Lalan Singh spoke in the Lok Sabha and supported this bill. The Waqf Bill is against Indian Muslims. We cannot accept it under any circumstances. This bill violates many fundamental rights of the Constitution. Through this bill, Indian Muslims are being humiliated and insulted… Neither you nor your party realises this,” he wrote.
Union Minister and JD(U) leader Rajiv Ranjan Singh defended the bill in the Lok Sabha a day prior, stating that its purpose was to promote transparency and ensure the welfare of all segments of the Muslim community. He stated that attempts had been made to depict the bill as “anti-Muslim,” but he rejected this assertion. “Waqf is a sort of trust which is formed to work in the interest of Muslims. This is not a religious organisation… The trust has the right to do justice to all sections of Muslims, but that is not happening… Today, a narrative is being made. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is being criticised. If you do not like him, then do not look at him. But appreciate his good work,” Singh said.
He accused opposition parties of creating a false narrative for political reasons. He said the bill aimed to improve the management of Waqf properties and ensure their income was used properly for the welfare of Muslims. Following a lengthy 12-hour discussion in the Lok Sabha, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is now headed to the Rajya Sabha, where the NDA has an advantage. The House comprises 245 members, and the government has 125 MPs, which is five more than the Opposition. Thus, the numbers are advantageous for the government.
