In a powerful address to voters in Bihar’s Muslim-majority Katihar district, Tejashwi Yadav, the Chief Ministerial candidate for the INDIA bloc, unequivocally stated that the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Act would be “thrown into the dustbin” should his coalition secure victory in the upcoming elections.
Yadav emphasized his father, RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s, unwavering stance against communal forces, contrasting it sharply with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s alleged support for such elements. He asserted that Kumar’s actions have allowed groups like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to propagate communal discord throughout the state and nation. Going further, Yadav rebranded the BJP as the “Bharat Jalao Party” (India Burning Party), reinforcing his commitment to scrapping the Waqf Act if the INDIA bloc forms the next government.
The Waqf (Amendment) Act, enacted by Parliament in April, has been a focal point of debate. While the ruling BJP-led NDA champions it as a measure to enhance transparency and empower marginalized Muslim communities and women, the opposition, including Yadav, vehemently argues that it infringes upon the fundamental rights of Muslims.
The issue gained further traction following a statement from RJD MLC Mohammad Qari Sohaib, who controversially declared that if Yadav became Chief Minister, “all bills will be torn apart, including the Waqf bill.” This sparked immediate backlash from the opposition, who questioned the authority of a state’s Chief Minister to unilaterally overturn a central law.
Yadav also expressed the public’s widespread discontent with the two-decade-long administration of Nitish Kumar. He criticized the Chief Minister’s leadership, suggesting he was “not in his senses” and highlighting pervasive corruption across government departments. Furthermore, Yadav lamented the complete collapse of law and order within the state.
Turning his attention to regional development, Yadav accused the NDA government of neglecting the Seemanchal region. He pledged that an INDIA bloc government would establish a dedicated Seemanchal Development Authority to ensure holistic growth for the area, which encompasses Purnia, Araria, Kishanganj, and Katihar districts and has a substantial Muslim population.
He further alleged that the NDA government was merely adopting his coalition’s electoral promises. Citing an example, Yadav noted, “We promised an increase in old-age pension. The Nitish Kumar government subsequently raised it from ₹400 to ₹1100 per month. I promise, we will further increase it to ₹2,000 per month.”