JD-U accused of betrayal and warned of consequences in the upcoming Bihar elections
Mohammad bin Ismail | Clarion India
NEW DELHI – A political storm is brewing in Bihar after several prominent Muslim leaders of the Janata Dal (United) quit the party, for supporting the controversial Waqf Amendment Bill in Parliament. The resignations come just months before the crucial assembly elections in the state, raising serious concerns for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his party’s minority vote base.
The list of Muslim leaders resigning from JDU is growing by the day, and their message is clear: the party’s support for the Waqf Bill is a betrayal of its secular principles and the trust placed in it by Muslim voters.
Leading the revolt is Mohammad Tabrez Siddiqui, General Secretary of JD-U’s minority wing and a senior party leader, who tendered his resignation with a scathing letter addressed to the chief minister.
“I did not expect that JD-U would support the Waqf Amendment Bill,” Siddiqui wrote. “I am disappointed with the party’s stand in Parliament. Therefore, I am resigning from the primary membership and all my posts in the party.”
He accused the JD-U of turning its back on secular values and said the decision would have dire political consequences. “The party will have to face the result of this betrayal in the assembly elections. Muslim voters will not forgive this insult.”
Siddiqui is not alone. Others who have quit in protest include Mohammad Qasim Ansari, a former JD-U candidate from Dhaka (East Champaran), and senior party leader Mohammad Shahnawaz Malik from Jamui.
All have cited the party’s stand on the Waqf Bill as the reason for their departure.
“Muslims have always supported the JD-U in difficult times. But now, the same party has turned against us. This bill is an attack on our identity and property,” said Qasim Ansari.
One of the strongest voices of protest has come from JD-U MLC Ghulam Gaus, who condemned the Waqf Bill as unconstitutional.
“This bill is an attack on Muslims under the excuse of reform,” Gaus said. “If the BJP is serious about helping Muslims, then implement the Sachar Committee and Ranganath Mishra Commission reports.”
In a sharp poetic jab at the chief minister, Gaus said, “My murderer is my judge, what decision will he give us? We expect loyalty from those who know not what loyalty is.”
He added, “Just as the farm laws were repealed after public pressure, the Waqf Bill must also be withdrawn. Do not force Muslims to take to the streets. This government has already brought CAA, NRC, Article 370, triple talaq, and now this Waqf Bill. Are Muslims the only ones seen for reform?”
When asked about the party MPs supporting the bill in Parliament, he replied, “If a knife is on my neck, should I still speak? Their opinion is theirs, but Muslims across the country are watching closely.”
The wave of resignations has now reached East Champaran, where Gauhar Alam, former chief councillor candidate of JD-U from Dhaka, also announced his exit.
“The Waqf Bill is against us Indian Muslims,” said Alam. “It cannot be accepted under any circumstances. Through this bill, we are being humiliated and insulted. And Nitish Kumar, who once claimed to be secular, remains silent.”
He added, “Our trust has been broken. The party has forgotten who stood by it for years.”
The Waqf Amendment Bill, passed in both houses of Parliament with support from JD-U MPs, has sparked outrage among the Muslim community. Critics argue that the bill gives the government greater control over Waqf properties, which are meant to serve religious, educational, and charitable purposes within the Muslim community.
“The government is trying to take away our lands, our institutions, and our heritage in the name of reform,” said a former JD-U leader who wished to remain anonymous. “This is nothing but a land grab wrapped in legal language.”
Muslim scholars and community leaders across Bihar and other states have also raised alarm, warning that the legislation could set a dangerous precedent for the autonomy of religious institutions.
With elections approaching, political observers believe Nitish Kumar’s decision to allow his party’s MPs to support the bill may cost him dearly. For a party that has long claimed to uphold secular and inclusive values, the open support for a bill seen as anti-Muslim is being viewed as a major shift in stance.
“This is a dangerous game,” said political analyst Rizwan Ahmed. “JD-U has historically depended on Muslim and backward caste votes. By hurting Muslim sentiments, the party is risking alienation at a crucial time.”
On the streets of Patna and Darbhanga, ordinary Muslim citizens are angry and feel betrayed.
“Why does every new law target Muslims?” asked Abdul Qadir, a schoolteacher in Muzaffarpur. “We are citizens of this country. We have voted. We have followed the law. But still, the government wants to weaken our community further.”
Rubina Khatoon, a college student in Samastipur, said, “Our institutions are already underfunded. Now they want to control our Waqf boards too? This is a violation of our rights.”
Several resigning leaders have called for unity among Muslims and urged people to speak up against the bill.
“This is not just about one party or one election,” said Mohammad Shahnawaz Malik. “This is about protecting our dignity and our constitutional rights.”
Calls for peaceful protest and legal challenges are also being discussed by local Muslim organisations. Some leaders have hinted at forming a new political platform that prioritises Muslim concerns.
The reaction to the Waqf Amendment Bill has exposed deep fractures between the JD-U and its Muslim support base. As more leaders walk away, the party finds itself in a difficult position, caught between coalition politics and community expectations.
What began as a legislative amendment has now turned into a broader debate on secularism, representation, and the future of Indian Muslims in the political landscape.
As Ghulam Gaus aptly warned, “Do not force Muslims to take to the streets. They are patient, but not helpless. Their silence is not approval. And their dignity cannot be bargained.”
