RJD chief Lalu Prasad and party leader Tejashwi Yadav with members of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board at a dharna against the Waqf Amendment Bill in Patna on Wednesday, March 26, 2024.
| Photo Credit: ANI
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad and son Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday (March 26, 2025) joined a protest by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in Patna.
Mr. Prasad said the Bill had been brought in violation of the Constitution. “Such undemocratic actions of the Central government need to be strongly opposed,” he said.
Also Read | Waqf Amendment Bill needed for transparency, accountability of Waqf Boards: Delhi Haj Committee chair
Mr. Yadav, Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, said whether the party remained in power or not, it would continue to protest from the streets to the House until the Waqf Bill was withdrawn. Those who wanted to grab the Waqf property through the Bill would never be allowed to succeed, he said.
Various Muslim organisations such as Imarat-e-Sharia, Khanqah Mujibia, Jamiatul Ulama-e-Hind, Jamaat Islami, Khanqah Rahmani and Jamaat Ahle Hadith took part in the protest held under the AIMPLB banner at Gardanibagh Dharna Sthal.
Pledges support
“We will not compromise at any cost on our resolution against communal forces and we are standing with you and will stand with you for the withdrawal of the Waqf law. Movements like this have always received our support and will continue to receive it,” Mr. Prasad said.
Mr. Prasad said the BJP wanted to end the Ganga-Jamuni culture [social harmony] of the country. Making an indirect attack on the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government in Bihar, he said all the parties in the grouping [NDA] were supporting the policies of the BJP for power.
‘Illegal move’
Mr. Yadav said the Waqf Amendment Bill brought by the Central government was illegal. “We thank you all for the mahajutan (great gathering) against the Bill and for protesting unitedly to maintain the constitutional system of the country. Our party and leader Lalu Prasadji have always stood with you. Despite being unwell, Laluji has joined you in this protest to tell you that whether the government stays or goes, we will continue to oppose the Bill,” Mr. Yadav said.
He further said, “We have been taking this matter forward from the House to the streets. Today also we moved an adjournment motion for a discussion but the House was adjourned.” He told the gathering that the RJD had opposed the Bill when it came up before the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) meeting.
Mr. Yadav asked the protesters to believe in the Constitution and maintain religious amity.
“The parties that are supporting this Bill in the desire to remain in power, want to weaken the Ganga-Jamuni culture. They want to weaken the country by standing with those who want to end Baba Saheb’s constitutional system,” Mr. Yadav said. He accused the BJP-led NDA government of hatching a conspiracy to break the country on religious lines.
Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) leader Prashant Kishor, Azad Samaj Party (ASP) president Chandrashekhar Azad and Samajwadi Party MP Maulana Mohibullah also attended the protest in Patna.
Published – March 26, 2025 08:56 pm IST