Senior JD(U) leader Mohammad Kasim Ansari resigns, quits party over its stand on Waqf Bill

This Bill violates many fundamental rights of the Constitution, and through this, Indian Muslims are being humiliated and disgraced, he says in resignation letter to party chief Nitish Kumar

Senior Janata Dal (United) leader Mohammad Kasim Ansari on Thursday (April 3, 2025) resigned from all posts, expressing strong disappointment with the party’s stand on the Waqf Amendment Bill.

In his resignation letter, Mr. Ansari said, “I am disappointed that I gave many years of my life to the party and served the party, but now when the party has changed its stand on the Waqf Amendment Bill, I do not agree with it and hence I am resigning from all my posts.”

Mr. Ansari’s resignation has created a stir in Bihar politics and marked the possibility of internal strife in the JD(U).

“I humbly say that millions of Indian Muslims like us had unwavering faith that you are the flag bearer of purely secular ideology. But now this belief has been broken. Millions of dedicated Indian Muslims and workers like us are deeply shocked by the stand of JD(U) regarding the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024,” Mr. Ansari said in the letter to party president and Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar.

He further said, “We are deeply saddened by the attitude and style with which Lalan Singh (Rajiv Ranjan Singh) gave his speech in the Lok Sabha and supported this bill. The Waqf Bill is against Indian Muslims. We cannot accept it under any circumstances. This bill violates many fundamental rights of the Constitution. Through this bill, Indian Muslims are being humiliated and disgraced. At the same time, this bill is also anti-Pasmanda. Which neither you nor your party realizes. I regret that I gave many years of my life to the party.”

At the end of the letter, he mentioned, “I am voluntarily resigning from the primary membership of the party and other responsibilities.”

Mr. Ansari comes from the East Champaran district and has been a candidate of the party from Dhaka Assembly constituency. A copy of the resignation has also been sent to JD(U) State unit president Umesh Kushwaha and district president Manju Devi.

His resignation is being considered a big setback for the party, as he was counted among its senior leaders. This development is likely to increase political turmoil in JD(U).

The Narendra Modi government presented the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday (April 2, 2025) and got it passed after nearly 12 hours of discussion. During this time, many Opposition leaders expressed their views on the Bill and also protested.

Mr. Ansari is not the only Muslim JD(U) leader who has objected to the Bill. MLC Ghulam Gaus, MLC Khalid Anwar, former MP and JD(U) national general secretary Ghulam Rasool Baliyavi, Minority Front president Salim Parvez, former MPs Ashfaq Karim and Ashfaq Ahmed were other leaders who voiced their dissent.

Mr. Gaus has demanded the Bill’s withdrawal. Earlier this week, he also met Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad at his residence in Patna.

Published - April 03, 2025 10:27 pm IST