JD(U) faces backlash over party's support to Waqf Bill in Parliament: Four leaders quit in 24 hours

Four leaders of the JD(U) have resigned from the party over its support to the Waqf Amendment Bill. (File Photo: PTI)

The Janata Dal (United) has been hit by a wave of resignations following the party's support to the Waqf Amendment Bill in both houses of Parliament. As many as four leaders have resigned from the party over the party's stand on the legislation, which Opposition parties as well as several religious oranisations have termed "anti-Muslim".

While senior leaders Mohammed Qasim Ansari and Mohammed Nawaz Malik were the first to resign condemning the party's support to the Bill, Tabrez Siddiqui Alig and Dilshan Rayeen soon followed suit and announced their resignations.

"Millions of Indian Muslims like us had unwavering faith in you as a flag bearer of a truly secular ideology. However, that belief has now been shattered. The stand taken by JD(U) on the Waqf Bill Amendment Act 2024 has deeply shocked millions of dedicated Indian Muslims and activists. We are extremely disheartened by the manner in which Lallan Singh delivered his speech and supported this bill in the Lok Sabha," senior leader Mohammed Qasim Ansari said announcing his decision to quit.

Tabrez Siddiqui, on the other hand, said that the Bill struck at the heart of the constitutional rights of Muslims and termed it an attempt to marginalize the entire community. The party's stand in Parliament, he said, was extremely disheartening.

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CA Md Tabrez Siddiqui (@tabrezalig) April 3, 2025

"Its impact will be clearly visible in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections in 2025, and soon, widespread resentment within JD(U) will trigger an exodus," he added.

The party, heavily dependent on Muslim support politically, has tried to put up a brave face and said that Nitish Kumar has always worked towards the welfare of the Muslim community.

"A lot of people talk a lot of things about JD(U). (Qasim) Ansari secured 499 of the over 3.20 lakh votes in elections and his exit has become national news? The question is to keep the existence of the party alive and following its decisions," JD(U) leader Neeraj Kumar said.

"I want to ask which Congress-ruled or non-BJP-ruled state has made budgetary allocations for the Waqf board. Nitish Kumar govt gave Rs 110 crore to Waqf Board," he added.

The JD(U) leader further said that Nitish Kumar secured votes from all sections of the society.

"The Muslim community realise that Nitish Kumar ji worked for their welfare," Neeraj Kumar added.

The Congress, meanwhile, termed the JD(U)'s support to the Waqf Bill as a betrayal of the Muslim community and called upon Muslim leaders to resign from the party.

“Nitish ji has betrayed Muslims and his Muslim leaders. All Muslim leaders of JDU should resign from the party. If any Muslim leader is with JDU, then he is betraying his community," said Congress leader Udit Raj.