Five JD(U) leaders resigned over the Waqf Amendment Bill, citing disagreement with the party's stance. Separately, an RLD leader also quit, while a senior BJP leader warned of strict action against bill protesters.
The passing of the Waqf Bill in Parliament has led to a rift within the JD(U) and RLD, with senior leaders resigning over their parties' support for the controversial amendments. Five senior JD(U) leaders resigned, citing disagreement with the party's stance on the Waqf Amendment Bill. Separately, an RLD leader also quit.
Meanwhile, in response a senior BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar warned that those who protest against the bill would be treated as "traitors" and potentially jailed.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill has been passed in both Houses of Parliament.
After Mohammad Kasim Ansari's resignation on Thursday, four more JD(U) leaders quit the party by Friday, bringing the total number of resignations to five.
JD(U) Minority Cell state secretary Mohammad Shahnawaz Mallick, West Champaran's Bettiah district vice president Nadeem Akhtar, Minority Cell state general secretary Mohammad Tabrez Siddiqui and party member from Bhojpur Mohammad Dilshan Rayeen have resigned so far.
One of the resignation letters stated that the party's backing of the bill would have repercussions in Bihar's forthcoming assembly elections.
Tabrez Siddiqui wrote in a letter addressed to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, "I had hoped you would maintain your secular image, but you chose to stand with forces that have repeatedly worked against Muslims," as quoted by India Today.
"NDA government's Waqf Bill followed earlier moves such as the abrogation of Article 370, the triple talaq law, and the Citizenship Amendment Act," he added.
Meanwhile, similar dissent emerged within the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), another NDA ally supporting the Waqf Bill in Parliament.
RLD's Uttar Pradesh general secretary, Shahzeb Rizvi, resigned over disagreements with the party's stance, criticising national president Jayant Chaudhary for backing the bill despite Muslim voters' significant support for the party.
He said, "Muslims supported Jayant Chaudhary in large numbers, but he did not stand with us when it mattered."
On Friday, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Vijay Kumar Sinha said those who protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill would be treated as "traitors" and jailed.
Citing Vijay Sinha, Indian Express reported that those who are threatening not to comply with the Waqf amendment will have to go to jail. This is not Pakistan, this is Hindustan. This is the Narendra Modi government.
“The Bill is duly passed in both Houses of Parliament. Those who still say they will not accept it are traitors. Such people should be immediately arrested," he added.
JDU national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad claimed that the leaders who resigned over the party's stance on the Waqf Amendment Bill weren't truly part of the party.
He said, "The names which are claiming to be a part of JD(U), are not actually a part of the party...Mohammed Qasim Ansari contested (Bihar Assembly) election 2020 from AIMIM. There are few other names...So, it is a conspiracy that minorities are not happy in JD(U). Bihar CM Nitish Kumar is the guarantee of the welfare of minorities," as quoted by ANI.
"The people believe that if Nitish Kumar supports the Waqf Amendment Bill, then nothing will happen against the interest of Muslims. It is definitely a ray of hope for the Muslims," he added.
After an intense debate in Rajya Sabha, the bill has been passed in Parliament. The bill was passed with 128 votes in favour and 95 against, while it had a tough fight in the Lok Sabha—288 MPs supported it, while 232 opposed it.
Though the legislative battle in Parliament is over, the political storm over the Waqf Bill has still not subsided. In Bihar, the Waqf Amendment Bill controversy is likely to remain a heated topic until the state assembly elections, slated for October or November 2025.