JDU Leader Steps Down Over Party's Stand On Waqf Bill: 'I Am Disheartened'

Senior Janata Dal (United) leader Mohammed Qasim Ansari has stepped down from the party and relinquished all official posts, citing deep disappointment over JD(U)'s support for the Waqf Amendment Bill. The bill, which faced intense opposition from several quarters, was passed late at night in the Lok Sabha, with JD(U)-a key NDA ally-voting in favor of it.

In a strongly worded letter to JD(U) president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Ansari expressed his anguish, stating that the party's endorsement of the bill had shattered the trust of millions of Indian Muslims who once saw JD(U) as a champion of secular values. He also criticized JD(U) leader Lalan Singh's remarks in the Lok Sabha, labeling the bill as anti-Muslim and a violation of constitutional rights. Additionally, he condemned the legislation for being discriminatory toward the Pasmanda Muslim community.

"Millions of Indian Muslims like us placed unwavering faith in you as a leader who upheld secular principles. However, that faith has now been broken. JD(U)'s stance on the Waqf Bill Amendment Act 2024 has deeply disheartened dedicated Indian Muslims and activists. The way Lalan Singh supported this bill in the Lok Sabha was extremely distressing," Ansari wrote in his resignation letter to Nitish Kumar.

Expressing regret over his long association with JD(U), Ansari said the bill was unacceptable as it violated fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution. He accused the party of failing to recognize the humiliation and discrimination the bill would impose on Indian Muslims, particularly the Pasmanda community.

"The Waqf Bill is against Indian Muslims, and we cannot accept it under any circumstances. It is a direct affront to our fundamental rights and an insult to our community. Sadly, neither you nor the party seems to understand this. After dedicating years of my life to JD(U), I now regret my association with it. Therefore, I am resigning from the primary membership of the party and all responsibilities I held," he stated.