Tejashwi Yadav Promises to Throw Waqf Amendment Act in “Dustbin” if Mahagathbandhan Comes to Power

Manas Dasgupta

NEW DELHI, Oct 26: The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and the opposition “Mahagathbandhan” chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday promised to “throw into the dustbin” the Waqf amendment act if his grand alliance was voted to power in Bihar in the November Assembly elections.

Addressing public rallies in Muslim-majority districts of Katihar, Kishanganj and Araria, Mr Yadav reminded the audience that his father and the former chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, the RJD chief, never compromised with communal forces in the country. He pointed out that the Lalu–Rabri administrations had stood firm against the RSS and communal forces.

He accused Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of backing those forces and blamed the BJP for spreading communal hatred across the state and the country, even dubbing the party the “Bharat Jalao Party.” “But Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has always supported such forces, and it is because of him that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh [RSS] and its affiliates are spreading communal hatred in the State as well as in the country.

Tejashwi framed his promise to overturn the Waqf amendment act as part of a broader defence of the Constitution, democracy and communal harmony. His speech also contained firm assurances on local development. He pledged to set up a Seemanchal Development Authority, establish a world-class university, a super speciality hospital and a centre of Aligarh Muslim University in the region if his coalition forms the government.

Attacking the BJP-led NDA alliance, Mr Yadav interpreted the BJP as the “Bharat Jalao Party” accusing the ruling party of spreading communal hatred and violence. “If the INDIA bloc comes to power in the State, we will throw the Waqf Act into the dustbin,” Mr Yadav said. The Waqf (Amendment) Act was passed by Parliament in April 2025 amid heated debate and objections from several opposition parties and Muslim organisations, with the government arguing the changes would increase transparency and curb corruption in waqf management. Critics have argued the amendments expand state oversight of waqf properties and could impinge on community rights.

On Saturday the RJD MLC Mohammad Qari Sohaib had stirred a controversy by stating that if Yadav becomes the CM of Bihar, “all bills will be torn apart, including the Waqf bill,” inviting a barrage of attacks from their Opposition, who questioned how a central law could be changed by the Chief Minister of a State.

Mr Yadav claimed that the people of Bihar were tired of the 20-year-old Nitish Kumar Government. “The CM is not in his senses. Corruption is rampant in every department of the government. The law and order situation has completely collapsed in the State,” Mr Yadav alleged. He also claimed that the NDA Government has done nothing for the development of the Seemanchal region. “If we come to power, we will constitute the Seemanchal Development Authority for the overall development of the region,” he said.

The region, comprising Purnia, Araria, Kishnaganj, and Katihar districts, has a significant Muslim population. The RJD leader alleged that the NDA Government was copying the election promises he was making. “We promised an increase in the old-age pension. The Nitish Kumar government increased it from ₹400 per month to ₹1100 per month. I promise, we will increase it to ₹2,000 per month,” Mr Yadav said.

He had also promised that the allowances of the representatives of Bihar’s panchayati raj system would be doubled if the INDIA bloc comes to power in the state. He also announced ₹50 lakh insurance cover and pension for them. The panchayati raj system consists of three levels of governance — zila parishad, panchayat samiti, and gram panchayat. The chairpersons are known as ‘mukhiya’ (gram panchayat), ‘pramukh’ (panchayat samiti), and ‘adhyaksha’ (zila parishad).

“If the INDIA bloc is voted to power, we will also substantially increase the margin money per quintal of distributors of the public distribution system (PDS) in the state,” Mr Yadav told reporters in Patna. “Besides, we will provide ₹5 lakh interest-free loans to barbers, those engaged in the pottery business, and carpenters in the State,” he added.

Taking aim at Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Tejashwi said threats by the BJP’s national leaders would not deter him. “I will fight and I will win. We are Biharis, true Biharis, we do not fear outsiders,” he declared, invoking the local pride of voters in the Seemanchal belt,