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Jolt to Nitish as JDU leader quits over party's Waqf Bill stand

April 03, 2025

Senior Janata Dal-United leader Mohammed Qasim Ansari on Thursday resigned from the party and all his posts, criticising the party's support for the Waqf Amendment Bill, which was passed in the Lok Sabha despite widespread opposition. 

In a letter to JD-U president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Ansari expressed deep disappointment, saying the party's stance had shattered the trust of millions of Indian Muslims who believed JD-U would uphold secular values. 

In his letter to Kumar, he said, "Millions of Indian Muslims like us had unwavering faith in you as a flag bearer of a truly secular ideology. However, that belief has now been shattered. The stand taken by JD-U on the Waqf Bill Amendment Act 2024 has deeply shocked millions of dedicated Indian Muslims and activists. We are extremely disheartened by the manner in which Lallan Singh delivered his speech and supported this bill in the Lok Sabha." -- PTI