Patna: Leading Muslim organisations in Bihar, including Imarat-e-Sharia, have announced a boycott of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Iftar party on Sunday in protest against his support for the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill 2024.
In a letter addressed to CM Nitish, organisations such as the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Jamiat Ulema Hind, Jamiat Ahle Hadith, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Khanqah Mujibia, and Khanqah Rahmani have criticised his alliance with the BJP and backing of the bill. They accused him of reneging on his commitment to secular governance and minority rights.
“The purpose of your Iftar feast is to promote goodwill and trust, but trust is not built through formal feasts alone. It requires concrete policies and measures. Your government’s neglect of the legitimate concerns of Muslims makes such events meaningless,” the letter stated.
The organisations have urged Nitish to withdraw his support for the Waqf Amendment Bill, arguing that its implementation would threaten centuries-old Waqf properties, including educational institutions, hospitals, women’s centres, and religious sites. They warned that the bill would deepen economic deprivation within the Muslim community, echoing concerns raised in the Sachar Committee report.
The letter clarified that the boycott was not a refusal to engage in dialogue but a stand against “oppression and injustice.” It expressed willingness for discussions if they led to genuine policy reforms.
Meanwhile, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani has extended the call for a boycott to Iftar gatherings hosted by TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu and LJP (Ram Vilas) chief and Union Minister Chirag Paswan.
The Bihar chief minister has traditionally hosted Iftar as a political gesture towards the state’s Muslim community, which constitutes around 17% of the electorate. With assembly elections approaching, the boycott signals growing discontent among a key voter base.
