RJD Set To Challenge Waqf Amendment Act In Supreme Court

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leaders have announced plans to file a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the recently enacted Waqf Amendment Act, which received presidential assent on Saturday. RJD MP Manoj Jha and senior party leader Fayaz Ahmed are set to approach the apex court on Sunday on behalf of the party, citing deep concerns over the law's potential impact on the management of Waqf properties.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav strongly criticized the legislation, alleging it was introduced to divert public attention from pressing issues such as unemployment. Speaking on Saturday, Yadav asserted that the act would be scrapped if the RJD came to power in Bihar following the upcoming state elections.

"We believe that Muslims are being targeted today, and tomorrow it could be Sikhs or Christians," Yadav said, adding that the RJD would not allow the BJP to implement the law in Bihar.

He also targeted Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, accusing him of attempting to promote the legislation despite opposition within his own party. "The JD(U) is making desperate efforts to prove the bill's benefits to Muslims, even forcing its Muslim leaders to hold a press conference-which ended up being quite a fiasco," Yadav said, according to PTI.

The Waqf Amendment Act has drawn criticism from several opposition parties. The Congress, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan have also approached the Supreme Court to contest the legislation.

Tensions around the bill have sparked protests in Bihar, especially in March when opposition legislators disrupted proceedings in the state assembly demanding its withdrawal. They also called for full implementation of the Sachar Committee recommendations to improve the socio-economic conditions of Muslims.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav extended support to the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), which has been actively campaigning against the law. Addressing an AIMPLB event, Tejashwi reaffirmed the RJD's opposition to the act, stating, "We believe in your cause. Our party had expressed this stand before the Joint Parliamentary Committee when the bill was brought to Bihar. We will fight until this undemocratic and unconstitutional 'Nagpuriya' legislation is repealed," referencing the Nagpur headquarters of the RSS, the ideological parent of the BJP.