The rally organized by Tejashwi Yadav to protest against the Waqf Amendment Act has drawn sharp criticism from Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha and Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi. Sinha accused the opposition of disrupting democracy by using the Waqf Bill as a pretext for their actions. He alleged that those protesting the bill aim to destabilize the country, and that the bill promotes satisfaction over appeasement. According to Sinha, the RJD and Congress are leveraging emotions to foster a government that thrives on exploitation, an approach he sees as a challenge to democratic norms. He clarified that the bill was passed by Parliament after repeated directions from the Supreme Court. Sinha said that the NDA government makes laws for justice and public welfare. The Waqf Amendment Bill, he added, does not infringe on religious freedom.
Sinha highlighted that the bill doesn’t permit non-Islamic members in the Waqf Board concerning religious donations. He clarified that non-Muslim members, if appointed, would not engage in religious activities, and the charity commissioner would ensure adherence to charity laws. He further accused the RJD and Congress of spreading misinformation and chaos.
Jitan Ram Manjhi criticized Tejashwi Yadav, accusing him of exploiting the Waqf issue for political gains. Manjhi claimed that Tejashwi’s efforts would be unsuccessful. He noted that those who know the Lalu family are aware of their concern for Muslims. Manjhi challenged Tejashwi to remove those linked to his party from illegally occupying the Waqf properties. Manjhi concluded that the public’s reaction to the party is a consequence of the behavior of his parents’ government.