NEW DELHI: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday strongly condemned the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025, calling it “unconstitutional” and accusing the BJP of using it to “divide the country” and distract from pressing issues. His remarks came after the Bill was passed by both Houses of Parliament following long and intense debate.
“RJD has opposed the Waqf Bill in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. All our MPs voted against it. We all believe that it is an unconstitutional Bill, it is in violation of Article 26,” Yadav said at a press conference.
He accused the BJP of pushing the Bill to fuel polarisation. “The people of BJP want to do polarisation, divide country, they want to divert from real issues of unemployment, inflation, migration, economic situation, poverty,” he said.
Yadav also took aim at the ideological roots of the ruling party. “RSS and BJP are against constitution because they want to implement the law of Nagpur (RSS headquarter). We are secular, do politics of ideology, principles. We have never compromised upon the ideology, we will never do, and continue to fight,” he added.
Without directly naming Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Yadav said, “Honourable CM is not well, I don’t want to comment on him, but the parties who call themselves secular, have been exposed. It shows that they are selfish for the power.”
Meanwhile, with the Bihar assembly elections approaching, the Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) appears to be on shaky ground as five party members stepped down from their posts following the passage of the Waqf Bill in Parliament, signalling dissatisfaction with the party’s position — a development that could bolster Tejashwi Yadav, Kumar’s main political challenger, in the upcoming polls.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on Thursday after a 12-hour debate, with 288 MPs voting in favour and 232 against. The Rajya Sabha cleared it early Friday with 128 votes in favour and 95 against, after rejecting all opposition amendments.
Defending the Bill, minority affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said it incorporates suggestions from stakeholders and is aimed at improving transparency and governance of Waqf institutions.
Key provisions of the Bill include:
- Reducing the mandatory contribution from Waqf institutions to state Waqf boards from 7% to 5%
- Mandating audits for institutions earning over Rs 1 lakh by state-sponsored auditors
- Introducing a centralised portal for efficient Waqf property management
- Restoring the pre-2013 provision allowing Muslims practising the faith for at least five years to dedicate property to Waqf
- Ensuring women receive their inheritance before any Waqf declaration, with protections for widows, divorced women, and orphans
- Authorising officials above the rank of collector to investigate claims over government land listed as Waqf
