Bihar Muslim body announces boycott of Nitish Kumar’s Iftaar over Waqf Bill, Congress comes to his defence

Despite the announcement by the Imarat-e-Shariah, which was supported by six other organisations, several Muslim leaders, including even some members of Imarat-e-Shariah, attended the CM’s Iftaar on Sunday.

Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) termed the boycott announcement “uncalled for”. JD(U) MLC and chief spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said, “We are happy that several Muslim leaders attended our Iftaar. The Imarat-e-Shariah’s announcement is uncalled for.”

Bihar Congress Legislature Party leader Shakil Ahmad Khan said it should be left to individuals “to accept or reject the invitation for Iftaar. Politics and festivities should not be mixed.”

Senior Congress leader and party spokesperson Prem Chandra Mishra also said the decision should be left to individuals. “We do oppose the passing of the Waqf Bill in its present form. But attending or not attending Iftaar is one’s individual call.”

Making a similar argument, former MP and head of the All India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz, Ali Anwar Ansari, said: “We are surely against the passing of the Waqf Bill as the government did not take any of our suggestions. In Bihar itself, over two dozen Muslim organisations had given their representation before the Waqf committee, making several suggestions. But it is not proper to link it to Imarat-e-Shariah’s call for a boycott of Iftaar parties by JD(U) or other ruling parties.”

The RJD, which leads the Opposition Mahagathbandhan in which the Congress is a partner, also did not fully back a boycott.

“It is unfortunate that Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and senior JD(U) leader and Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh or Lalan Singh supported the Waqf Bill in its present form. Had JD(U) put its foot down, the Opposition’s suggestions would have been incorporated in the Bill. Imarat-e-Shariah and six other organisations have shown their angst with the Iftaar boycott call. But we leave it to individuals,” a party leader said.

However, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) backed the boycott. AIMIM Bihar spokesperson Adil Hasan Azad said, “Since the NDA government did not consider suggestions from Opposition parties and Muslim bodies on Waqf, sarkari Iftaars must be boycotted by all Opposition parties.”

Imarat-e-Shariah is a prominent Islamic organisation in Bihar. Founded in 1921 by Maulana Abul Mohasin Mohammed Sajjad, a renowned Islamic scholar, the organisation focuses on promoting Islamic jurisprudence and providing guidance on Islamic law (Shariah) to Muslims.