Bihar Election: On RJD's 'Waqf Bill Be Torn' Threat, A Fact-Check And Swipe From BJP MP
The Waqf Board bill was passed in Parliament, and not in the assembly, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said on Sunday, taking a swipe at RJD leader and INDIA bloc Chief Ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav, after a party leader claimed "all Bills will be torn apart, including the Waqf Bill" if Tejashwi Yadav takes the top job. RJD MLC Mohammad Qari Sohaib made the remark while addressing a public meeting in Parbatta assembly constituency in support of RJD candidate and sitting MLA Sanjeev Kumar on Saturday. "People must vote for the INDIA bloc to make Tejashwi Yadav the CM of Bihar. Lessons will be taught to those who supported the Waqf Bill in Parliament. All NDA partners supported the Bill… if Tejashwi Yadav becomes CM, all Bills will be torn apart, including the Waqf Bill," Qari Sohaib said. Qari Sohaib's remark,BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said, are "already confusing the public". "The Waqf Board bill is passed in Parliament, not in the assembly... One should speak according to one's capacity... You should talk about what is in your capacity. When you (RJD) were in government, criminals ruled. These people (RJD) chant 'Jai Shahabuddin'... Tejashwi Yadav has a 56-inch-long tongue while the NDA has a 56-inch chest... Their identity is looting Bihar... Now, NDA will build big bridges, provide employment, AIIMS, and more assistance to Bihar..," he said. Soon after the RJD leader's comments went viral on social media, BJP’s national IT in-charge Amit Malviya posted on X, "From the RJD platform, an announcement — if Tejashwi Yadav becomes CM, they will end the Waqf law. The law will remain, but the intention to loot the land is clear. This is exactly what RJD’s jungleraaj is." No senior RJD leaders were available for comments on Qari Sohaib’s remarks. What Is The Waqf Law? The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, came into effect in April this year. Under this amendment, key provisions include digitising property records, regular audits of waqf boards, and the inclusion of non-Muslim communities, women and members of other Muslim communities such as the Shias, Pashmandas and Bohras in Waqf boards. As per the Centre, the Bill's purpose was to ensure better administration of waqf assets. However, the Opposition said that this was an unlawful attempt by the Centre to interfere in religious matters. In September, the Supreme Court, paused some aspects of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, after multiple challenges. It halted Section 3(1)(r), which required a person to have practised Islam for at least five years before creating a Waqf. It also struck down a clause that said a government officer would decide dispute cases involving waqf properties. The top court said that only Waqf Tribunals can handle such cases. It further stated that as far as possible, ex-officio members of the Waqf Boards should be Muslims, while refusing to stay the clause that permitted non-Muslims to be part of Waqf Boards.