Waqf Bill: Who's the 'girgit'? Lalu, Nitish parties slug it out

PATNA: As Bihar prepares for assembly polls in Oct-Nov, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, cleared by both Houses of Parliament, has led to a fierce political storm in the state. The legislation, meant to tighten management of waqf properties, has turned into a flashpoint between NDA and Grand Alliance , triggering a war of words, poster blitz and ideological posturing ahead of the high-stakes electoral battle.

At the heart of the row is JDU's support for the bill, which has drawn stinging criticism from the opposition, particularly RJD. Defending its stance, JDU claimed it backed the legislation only after JPC accepted all five of its key recommendations. Party spokesperson Anjum Ara listed these as keeping land under the state list, ensuring the law applies prospectively, preserving the status of religious structures on unregistered waqf land, raising the rank of officers resolving disputes, and extending the digitisation deadline.

RJD's attacks have continued, nonetheless. Calling the bill "unconstitutional", party functionary Tejashwi Yadav vowed it would be scrapped if Grand Alliance took office. "This bill won't be implemented at any cost, it will be thrown into the dustbin," he said.

A poster war has also erupted. RJD kicked it off by likening CM Nitish Kumar to a 'chameleon'. In retaliation, JDU posters accused RJD chief Lalu Prasad of similar flip-flopping, pointing to his 2010 speech in Lok Sabha demanding strict laws for waqf property, which contrasts with RJD's opposition to the bill now.

Adding to the fire, governor Arif Mohammed Khan backed the bill, describing it as a necessary reform. "Which waqf board is actually serving the poor - running orphanages or hospitals?" he asked, arguing that waqf assets should be used for public good.

Union minister Chirag Paswan, too, has joined in, accusing the opposition of stoking fear among Muslims.