The RJD, a key opposition party in Bihar, has thrown its weight behind the Muslim organisations’ decision
Team Clarion
PATNA — In a significant political development, several Muslim organisations in Bihar boycotted Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s iftar party on Sunday. They cited his government’s support for the controversial Waqf Amendment Bill. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) welcomed the move, with party leaders calling it a “right decision.”
Imarat Shariah, a prominent Muslim organisation, formally declined the invitation to iftar party. Earlier in a letter addressed to Nitish Kumar, the organisation stated, “We, the signatories of the Milli organisations of Bihar, will not attend the government iftar to be held on 23 March 2025.” The letter further explained that the boycott is in protest against the Waqf Amendment Bill, which they claim poses a “serious threat to the existence of Waqf properties, violates constitutional protections, and deepens the economic and educational backwardness of Muslims.”
The letter also urged a complete boycott of Nitish Kumar’s events, stating, “No one should attend his invitation or vote for his party until he speaks out in the interest of Muslims and completely opposes the Waqf Amendment Bill.”
The RJD, a key opposition party in Bihar, has thrown its weight behind the Muslim organisations’ decision. Sudhakar Singh, RJD MP and former agriculture minister, praised the move, saying, “For the first time, people of the Muslim community have taken a very important decision. What was the justification for going to the programs of those who are running the government in alliance with the BJP? I congratulate the Muslim organisations, who took the right decision for the first time in 20 years.”
Singh further criticised Nitish Kumar’s alliance with the BJP, accusing him of supporting the saffron party’s agenda on issues such as triple talaq, Article 370, and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). “Nitish Kumar will also support the BJP on all agendas from triple talaq to 370 and the NRC. Despite this, it was sad if people of the Muslim organisation went to Eid and iftar parties. Such people should have been boycotted earlier. I congratulate them that their decision is right,” he added.
The boycott highlights growing tensions between Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) and Muslim groups, who feel betrayed by the government’s stance on the Waqf Amendment Bill. The bill, which aims to amend the management of Waqf properties, has been criticised for allegedly undermining the rights of Muslim communities.
As the political landscape in Bihar heats up, the boycott of Nitish Kumar’s iftar party signals a deepening rift between the chief minister and a significant section of the state’s Muslim population. With the RJD backing the decision, the move is likely to have broader implications for the state’s political dynamics in the run-up to the 2025 elections.
The chief minister’s office has yet to respond to the boycott or the allegations raised by Imarat Shariah and other Muslim organisations.
