In the wake of the statement made by Union minister and JD(U) leader Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh in support of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government’s contentious Waqf Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, differences have surfaced in the JD(U) over the stance taken by Lalan, who appeared to be the most vociferous among the BJP allies in backing the Bill. On Friday, Bihar water resources and parliamentary affairs minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary, a senior JD(U) leader close to party supremo and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, came out to take a different position while welcoming the government’s eventual decision to send the Bill to a Joint Committee of Parliament for scrutiny. The government’s move came following fierce resistance from the Opposition parties and some concerns from the NDA allies like the TDP and the LJP(RV). JD(U) sources said that Lalan Singh's statement on the Bill "created confusion in party rank and file" and finally it was left for the CM House to clear the air. While Nitish has not spoken on the matter yet, Vijay Choudhary asserted that "Since there were misconceptions and apprehensions among the minority community (Muslims), we welcome the Centre's decision to refer the Bill to the Joint Committee. It has been the stated stand of the party to deal with issues concerning minorities with sensitivity". When asked about Lalan Singh’s support for the Bill in its “current form”, Choudhary maintained that “the apprehensions of the minority community about the Bill must be addressed before it is finalised”. Choudhary went on to say how the Nitish-led government has been running several welfare schemes for Muslims, which has been “benefiting the community”. Since Choudhary is one of the closest lieutenants of Nitish, his statement is being considered as the JD(U)’s “official line” on the issue. Some Muslim leaders of the JD(U), who has already been expressing their concerns over the Bill, have now come out following Choudhary's statement to voice their dissent against the Bill. JD(U) leader and former MLC Ghulam Gous said: "There have been valid concerns among Muslims over Waqf Amendment Bill. It is because of lack of trust in the present government at the Centre. It is good that it has been referred to Joint Committee for review". Gous has also written to PM Modi regarding engaging the Muslim community in a dialogue before considering amendments to the Waqf law. Echoing similar views, JD(U) national general secretary and ex-Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Rasool Baliyawi said: "We oppose the Waqf Amendment Bill and want to know if the Centre proposes to bring similar laws in matters of temples and mutts.” During the Thursday discussion in the Lok Sabha on the Bill after the government introduced it, Lalan had said that it would bring “transparency” in the functioning of the Waqf Boards and was not “anti-Muslim” or “an attempt to interfere with the running of mosques”. A senior JD(U) leader told The Indian Express: "The CM is not too happy with what Lalan Singh said in support of the Bill. Even in matters of Uniform Civil Code, we had given our representation before Law Commission, saying while we are in favour of reforms in Muslim laws, certain religious issues concerning them have to be dealt with utmost care. Lalan Singh's stance has created a lot of confusion in party rank and file. But now that the matter is referred to joint parliamentary panel, we support it, which can be called our party's stand". Nitish has always tried to build up his constituency among Muslims despite being a key BJP ally. In the 2009 Lok Sabha elections and the 2010 Bihar Assembly polls, a section of Muslims supported his party significantly . Nitish consolidated this constituency when he joined hands with the Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) comprising the RJD and the Congress ahead of the 2015 Assembly polls in which their alliance won 178 seats out of 243, with the JD(U)’s tally being 71 seats. The welfare schemes being run by the Nitish government for the Muslim community include the fencing of cemeteries (over 8,000 cemeteries fenced so far), strengthening of the bridge-course schools, Talimi Markaj (to bring back dropout and unschooled children to schools), appointment of thousands of Urdu teachers, building of Haj Bhavan and running a coaching centre in it for Muslim boys and girls for competitive exams. "Even though JD(U) is again back in NDA, it has not given up on its hopes of getting significant Muslim support in the coming elections. Every time, there is any communal tension, Nitish Kumar gets pro-active. It may or may not convert into Muslim support for JD(U) but this shows that the Muslim outreach has always been in his mind,” said a JD (U) source. The Muslim community accounts for 17% of Bihar population.
