Will throw Waqf Act in dustbin if RJD comes to power, vows Tejashwi Yadav

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and INDIA bloc’s Chief Ministerial face for Bihar Tejashwi Yadav said that The Waqf (Amendment) Act would be “thrown in the dustbin” if his party comes to power in the State.

Mr. Yadav, who was addressing his first election rally in Katihar’s Seemanchal region on Sunday (October 26, 2025), said the RJD has never compromised with its ideology, and his father and party supremo Lalu Prasad has never bowed down to “communal forces”.

Lashing out at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for “switching sides”, Mr. Yadav said the former has given space to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Bihar.

“When my father and mother were Chief Ministers, the BJP and the RSS could not dare to incite riots. We never bow down, and Lalu ji has always fought against BJP and today also we are strongly standing against them. The BJP is most afraid of Lalu ji. Let it bring any Bill. I want to tell you that when our party forms the government, we will throw the Waqf Act in the dustbin,” he said to loud cheers in the Pranpur Assembly constituency.

The statement drew sharp criticism from the BJP with Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha saying it reflected Mr. Yadav’s “unruly, unparliamentary and unconstitutional conduct”. “The Bill was passed and made an Act by the country’s Parliament… If he (Mr. Yadav) behaves this way while being in the Opposition, he will do nothing but spread anarchy and terror if he comes to power,” Mr. Sinha said.

Mr. Sinha said that Mr. Yadav was raised during the “era of appeasement” by the RJD-Congress and the ‘jungle raj’, therefore, expecting him to possess knowledge of democratic norms and parliamentary decorum is “futile”.

“The entire country is aware that the Waqf Amendment Bill was passed by the country’s Parliament following a long-awaited demand and repeated directives from the Supreme Court. The NDA government has a clear principle, that it will not introduce any legislation for vote bank purposes, as the law is meant for justice and the welfare of the people. It should not be a tool for appeasement,” he said.

Mr. Sinha added that the Waqf Act does not interfere with religious freedom and the changes made were administrative in nature.

‘Give a chance’

Mr. Yadav said the people of Bihar are “eagerly awaiting change” in government.

“Just as stagnant water rots, sowing the same seeds in the same field for 20 years ruins both the field and the crop. Similarly, the two-decade-old NDA government has ruined Seemanchal and no work has been done for two generations,” he said.

The RJD leader said he was only “asking for a chance”. “You gave the NDA 20 years, just give me 20 months. Together, we will build a new Bihar and once voted to power we will form Seemanchal Development Authority for the development of this region,” he said.

Later in the day, Mr. Yadav addressed public meetings in Kishanganj and Ararai of the Seemanchal region.

Poll promises

Earlier in the day, while addressing a press conference at his official residence in Patna, Mr. Yadav promised to double the allowance of three-tier panchayat representatives. “The allowances of three-tier panchayat representatives and gram kachari representatives will be doubled. They will be insured for ₹ 50 lakh. Pension will be introduced for former panchayat and gram kachari representatives,” he said.

He said that Public Distribution System distributors will be given honorarium.

Mr. Yadav added that for the economic upliftment and self-employment of barbers, potters, carpenters, and blacksmiths, one-time interest-free financial assistance of ₹5 lakh will be provided for five years. With this amount, they can purchase modern tools and equipment and start self-employment.