As Waqf Bill clears Lok Sabha, after-effects felt in JD(U), TDP leaders watch warily

The JD(U) and TDP head governments in Bihar and Andhra, respectively, which have significant Muslim populations and have traditionally enjoyed the community’s support. Bihar is headed for Assembly elections later this year.

While TDP MPs supported the Bill in the Lok Sabha Wednesday even while urging the government to bring in one change in the provision allowing for non-Muslims in Waqf boards, the JD(U) offered wholehearted support. Both voted for the legislation while underlining their “steadfast support for Muslims”.

However, on Thursday, JD(U) general secretary and former Rajya Sabha MP Gulam Rasool Balyawi came out to question why the recommendations made by many Muslim organisations to the Joint Committee of Parliament that held discussions on the Bill were “ignored”.

“Both secular and communal forces have been exposed. The Edara-e-Shariah (a socio-religious organisation headed by Balyawi) had written to the panel, party chief Nitish Kumar and Naidu saying that Muslim bodies’ suggestions were not considered while drafting the Bill,” Balyawi, a prominent Muslim leader of Bihar, said.

Balyawi also threatened to launch a protest under the banner of his Edara-e-Shariah. “We will study the finer details of the Bill and will start a movement against it,” he said.

Incidentally, another influential outfit, Imarat-e-Shariah, had boycotted an iftaar held by JD(U) supremo and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as a mark of protest against the JD(U)’s decision to support the Waqf Bill.

JD(U) MLC Ghulam Gous said he was against the Bill from the start. “I had also lodged my protest when the party decided to support it in August last year. I still stand against the Bill,” he said.

In his resignation letter, addressed to JD(U) Bihar chief Umesh Kushwaha and JD(U) East Champaran district president Manju Devi, Ansari said he was “disheartened” that he gave years of his life to the party. “I would like to say with due respect that millions of Indian Muslims like us had unwavering faith that you are the flagbearer of a purely secular ideology. But now this belief has been broken. Millions of dedicated Indian Muslims and workers like us are deeply shocked by the stand of the JD(U),” he said.

The leaders’ statements drew criticism from JD(U) spokesperson and MLC Neeraj Kumar, who said those opposing the Bill feared losing their control and monopoly on Waqf properties.

Among TDP Muslim leaders, among the only ones willing to speak on the record was Abdul Aziz, Chairman of the Andhra Pradesh Waqf Board. One of the tallest Muslim leaders of the TDP, Aziz said no state Waqf board can be happy about the Bill as it dilutes their powers.

“We also have reservations against certain clauses like inclusion of non-Muslims in Waqf boards… However, Naidu held a meeting with leaders of the community on Thursday morning and assured us that no non-Muslims would be included in the boards,” Aziz told The Indian Express.

Earlier, a day before the Bill was introduced in Parliament, TDP leaders had huddled late into the night with legal experts, after which the party had taken a call to seek a change over inclusion of non-Muslims in Waqf boards. In its speech in the Lok Sabha, the TDP representative said that this should be left to the discretion of state governments.

Sources within the TDP said “alliance compulsion” meant the party had to extend support to the Bill. “Right now, we are dealing with the financial mess left behind by the previous YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government and it is important for us to keep the Centre by our side to ensure development. Had we not been in an alliance with the BJP, we would have never voted in favour of the Bill,” a source said.

Another TDP leader from the community, who did not wish to be named, echoed Aziz’s view. “We have very openly expressed our reservations regarding some issues in the Bill with our party chief (Naidu). He told us not to worry at all and said he will not allow the interests of the community to be hurt,” the leader said.