Tejashwi Yadav breaks silence on ‘Waqf in dustbin’ controversy
Patna — Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav has clarified his controversial “Waqf in dustbin” remark. He said he meant that the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 would not be implemented in Bihar if the INDIA bloc came to power.
“What I meant to say is that we will not implement the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, in Bihar if our government forms. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already said the same. The matter is still in the Supreme Court. But every state has its rights and can stop implementation of any Act within its domain,” Yadav said in an interview with Hindustan Times in Delhi.
His explanation came after sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which accused him of misleading people about a law already passed by Parliament and upheld by the Supreme Court.
Earlier, while addressing four public meetings in Katihar, Kishanganj, and Araria, Yadav had said his party would never surrender to communal forces. “It was Lalu Prasad who stopped L.K. Advani’s Rath Yatra in Bihar. I am his son and I won’t bow to their geedar bhabki,” he declared at a rally in Alta Haat under Kochadhaman constituency.
Continuing his attack, Yadav blamed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for supporting divisive forces. “Because of Nitish Kumar, the RSS and its allies are spreading communal hatred in Bihar and across India. The BJP should be called the ‘Bharat Jalao Party.’ If the INDIA bloc comes to power, we will throw the Waqf Act into the dustbin,” he said, triggering the controversy.
The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, passed in April, has drawn mixed reactions. The ruling NDA described it as a reform for transparency and empowerment of backward Muslims and women. However, the Opposition, including the RJD and Trinamool Congress, claimed it undermines Muslim community rights and centralises control over Waqf properties.
Reacting to Yadav’s statement, BJP national spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain said RJD leaders were trying to mislead voters. “The Waqf Amendment Act has been passed by Parliament and approved by the Supreme Court. RJD leaders still live in the jungle raj mindset. They are making false claims to confuse people,” he said in Patna, as quoted by ANI.
BJP MP Manoj Tiwari also criticised Yadav’s comments. “These leaders are confusing the public. The Waqf Board Bill passed in Parliament, not in any state assembly. One should talk within one’s authority,” he said.
Despite the backlash, Yadav stood by his stance. He insisted that states have powers over implementation within their jurisdiction and that Bihar would decide independently under a new government.
The controversy has added another flashpoint to the growing tension between the RJD-led INDIA bloc and the NDA in Bihar. As both sides gear up for elections, Yadav’s statement has reignited the political battle over religious rights, governance, and federal authority.
