Bihar opposition leader and Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday vowed to scrap the Waqf (Amendment) Act should the INDIA coalition come to power. Speaking to large crowds in the Muslim-majority districts of Katihar and Kishanganj, he framed the promise as part of defending constitutional values, democracy, and communal harmony.

Invoking the legacy of his father, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, Tejashwi praised the earlier Lalu–Rabri governments for resisting the RSS and other communal forces, while accusing Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of supporting them. He also criticized the BJP, dubbing it the “Bharat Jalao Party,” and blamed it for spreading communal tension across Bihar and the country.

In addition to opposing the Waqf law, Tejashwi outlined development plans for the Seemanchal region. He pledged to establish a Seemanchal Development Authority, a world-class university, a superspeciality hospital, and a branch of Aligarh Muslim University if his government comes to power.

The Waqf (Amendment) Act, passed in April 2025, has faced criticism from opposition parties and Muslim organizations. While the government argued the legislation would improve transparency and reduce corruption in waqf management, opponents claimed it increased state control over waqf properties and threatened community rights. The issue intensified after RJD MLC Mohammad Qari Sohaib stated that Tejashwi would “tear apart all bills, including the Waqf bill” if elected, drawing backlash from political rivals.

Tejashwi also attacked the current administration on governance and welfare, alleging neglect of Seemanchal, corruption, and law-and-order failures under Nitish Kumar. He promised to raise old-age pensions to Rs 2,000 per month, claiming that the NDA was copying his proposals.

Directing criticism at Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Tejashwi asserted that threats from BJP leaders would not intimidate him. “We are Biharis, true Biharis, and we do not fear outsiders,” he told supporters, emphasizing regional pride in the Seemanchal belt, which includes Purnia, Araria, Kishanganj, and Katihar.