The Janata Dal (United), a key ally of the BJP, strongly backed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, dismissing Opposition claims that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is anti-Muslim.
Union Minister Lalan Singh defended the bill, saying it would benefit ‘Pasmanda’ (backward) Muslims, as well as poor and marginalized women within the community. “The amendments will bring transparency. Pasmandas will stand with Modi in the coming days as they have received justice under his government,” he said.
Singh also responded to criticism of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, rejecting any doubts about his secularism. “The Janata Dal (United) and Nitish Kumar do not need your certificate of secularism. Your secularism is about dividing society for votes,” he said, targeting the Opposition. He also highlighted Kumar’s “efforts for Muslims” in Bihar, including improvements in education, justice in the Bhagalpur riot cases, and proper delineation of graveyards.
Challenging the Opposition’s support for a caste census, Singh asked, “They keep talking about caste census, but can they tell us the share of Pasmanda Muslims in Waqf boards?”
Singh also praised Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju for “saving” government buildings like the Supreme Court, Parliament, and Rashtrapati Bhawan from potential Waqf claims.
“The critics of this bill are either those who use religious matters for votes or those who have grabbed Waqf assets and now fear losing control,” Singh alleged. He accused the Opposition of spreading a false narrative that the bill is anti-Muslim and attempting to create unrest.
He further argued that Waqf is not a religious organization but a trust that operates in the interest of Muslims.
