'Will Tear Waqf Law If Tejashwi Becomes CM': RJD Leader's Claim Draws BJP's Wrath

Last Updated:October 25, 2025, 21:04 IST

RJD leader Qari Sohaib said in a campaign rally that Tejashwi Yadav will scrap the Waqf law after becoming the Bihar CM, drawing a sharp response from the BJP.

RJD leader Qari Sohaib speaking during an election campaign in Bihar. (Photo: X)

A fresh political controversy has erupted in Bihar with less than two weeks to go for the high-stakes Assembly elections in Bihar, as a leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) said Tejashwi Yadav will scrap the Waqf Amendment Act in the state after becoming the Chief Minister.

A video went viral on social media, showing RJD leader Qari Sohaib addressing a campaign rally in Khagaria. “I appeal to all sections of the society, forget about everything, don’t come under anyone’s influence… people who passed the Waqf bill need to be treated," he said.

“To save Bihar and our country, defeat NDA, and vote for the Mahagathbandhan government. Once Tejashwi Yadav becomes the Chief Minister, all such bills will be torn and thrown away, be it the Waqf bill or any other bill," he added.

BJP’s ‘Jungle Raj’ Response

The RJD leader’s comments drew a sharp response from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which accused the RJD of backing land mafias and seeking the return of Lalu Yadav’s ‘jungle raj’.

“From the RJD platform, an announcement — if Tejashwi Yadav becomes the Chief Minister, they will end the Waqf law. The law will remain, but the intention to loot the lands is clear. This is exactly what RJD’s jungle raj is," said BJP IT department in-charge Amit Malviya.

“RJD leader using official RJD platform to threaten & tear apart laws made by Parliament & upheld by SC. This is what they want Jungle Raj + Shariah Raj not Kanoon Aur Sanvidhan ka Raj!" said BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla.

“Bihar must beware of these illiterate louts. Tearing a printout/ photocopy of the Act will make no difference, except expose their hooligan character. Waqf Amendment Act is irrevocable," said another spokesperson, Tuhin Sinha.

What Is The Waqf Law?

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was passed in the Budget Session 2025 – from January 31 to April 4 – after a 12-hour debate in both Houses of the Parliament. The bill was cleared by the Lok Sabha with the support of 288 members, while 232 MPs were against it. The Rajya Sabha saw 128 members voting in its favour and 95 against it.

The Act aims to modify the Waqf Act 1995 and to address the challenges in the regulation and oversight of waqf properties. Opposition alleged it was aimed at weakening Muslim institutions, while the government called it a transparency reform.

Last month, the Supreme Court refused to stall the operation of the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025, in its entirety, noting that “presumption is always in favour of the constitutionality of the law, only in the rarest of rare cases are laws stayed", but halted some provisions of the Act.

Staying the requirement of a person to be a practising Muslim for five years, the court said it would be on hold till the government makes rules and comes up with a mechanism to avoid it becoming an arbitrary provision. The court also observed that permitting the Collector to determine rights of property was against the concept of separation of powers.

Aveek Banerjee

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international...Read More

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international...

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