Muslim groups boycott Nitish Kumar’s Iftar over his support to Waqf Bill

Several Muslim organisations in Bihar boycotted an Iftar dinner organised by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at his home in Patna on Sunday, citing the Janata Dal (United)’s support for the 2024 Waqf Amendment Bill, The Hindu reported.

In a letter to Kumar, seven Muslim groups said that the chief minister had come to power on the promise of a secular government and the protection of the rights of minorities, The Hindu reported.

“But your alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party and your support to the illogical and unconstitutional Waqf Amendment Bill is a blatant violation of your same promises,” the newspaper quoted the letter as saying.

Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) is an ally of the BJP in Bihar and is part of the ruling National Democratic Alliance at the Centre.

The Waqf Bill has been opposed by leaders of the Opposition INDIA bloc and Muslim groups who maintain that it violates the right to freedom of religion and the freedom to manage religious affairs. The Act was last amended in 2013.

The Janata Dal (United), however, has supported the proposed amendments to the Act, saying that the changes are not anti-Muslim, The Hindu reported. The party said that the bill aimed to ensure transparency in the operation of the waqf boards and was not an attempt to interfere...

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