Modi, Mamata, and the Muslim Vote: The Politics Behind the Waqf Bill

Poonam Sharma

All Muslim MPs have come together against the waqf bill. Actually, opposition voices have begun to rise . JDU’s National General Secretary Ghulam Rasool Baliyavi had already made it clear that they oppose the bill in the Lok Sabha, where communal and secular parties have also joined hands. The opposition has meanwhile labeled this bill as an attempt to appease Muslims.

In the midst of this, CM Mamata Banerjee has announced that once the BJP government collapses and a new one is established, an amendment will be introduced to overturn this bill. A Congress leader has also claimed that if our government takes charge, we will see it gone. This is the kind of environment that is being created. RJD leader Manoj Jha has commented that the climate has changed throughout India. Who is altering the climate? Muslims know this, but this is a direct engagement in politics. Where has the party ideology vanished now? The struggle in Parliament that we witnessed was not driven by party ideology.

It is a direct involvement  in religious politics and then  saying religious politics gives rise to communalism  makes the environment worse. If Nitish Kumar has endorsed this bill, he is considering what effect it will have in the Bihar elections. Is Nitish Kumar communal now that he endorsed the Waqf Bill? Was Nitish Kumar a good secular leader during that time when he resisted Modi?

He was thought to be a secular leader then, but when he understood that he could not proceed politically without Modi, he deserted Lalu Prasad. Was he, therefore, a communal leader? The stance must not be hypocritical.

When Ali Anwar quit the party—he was Rajya Sabha MP—he is now lost. Now he is attempting to return to the Rajya Sabha by licking Rahul Gandhi’s boots. If you were brave, you should have quit when Nitish Kumar again formed the government with the BJP.

When PM Modi joined hands with Nitish Kumar, some leaders rallied behind him since they thought they had to set a different benchmark at the eleventh hour. Sharad Yadav was present there as well at that point in time. See his downfall—when he lost the government, he employed all devices to retain his bungalow.

A bit more time could have been provided in the last minute. The humiliation occurred because he was always with the BJP. Why was he not with Modi? Because as soon as his name became implicated in the Gujarat riots, these individuals set up a story that his involvement was questionable.

If that is so, then all parties whose chief minister witnessed riots during their time should be asked questions. There were Hindu-Muslim riots, anti-Sikh riots. Did these individuals sever ties with all parties whose leader experienced riots during their reign?

In 2012, Muzaffarnagar riots occurred during Akhilesh Yadav. What was Akhilesh Yadav’s role during those riots? Either you are blamed for having betrayed Hindus, or you have arrested only Hindus. The very first thing Akhilesh Yadav did was wrong—two Hindu youth were thrashed and murdered publicly.Riots ensued. Did Rahul Gandhi and the Maulanas sit down with Akhilesh Yadav at that time?

In Bihar, the Bhagalpur riots occurred during the Congress government. Prisoners were let out, and instructions were issued from inside the jail. Ten years down the line, people were still being arrested. What was congress’ role then?

Rajiv Gandhi quoted, “When a big tree falls, the earth shakes.” Till today, Congressmen like Sajjan Singh and Jagdish Tytler are being punished for those riots. Congress did nothing at that time. What did the Maulanas do with then?

90% of the riots in India occurred during Congress rule. Yet, they ally with Congress and label Gujarat riots as a political phenomenon that Congress attempted to capitalize on. They attempted to utilize it to discredit Modi’s image. And now you claim Nitish Kumar is no longer secular.

But the opposition has been playing Muslim appeasement politics. Will the same go on after the Waqf  Bill and it becomes evident that  Muslim appeasement politics will be on for as long as Hindus don’t react.

Up to now, there hasn’t been a strong reaction. Hindus will react when the percentage in the voting goes up to 50%. When Hindus demonstrate their strength, BJP will command more than 70% of the seats, even 80%.

Currently, they have demonstrated little power. Muslim MPs in the Lok Sabha account for just 24. They will drop to 2.4 in the future. They will triumph in places where there is a 76% Muslim population because they have won those places.

In the midst of all this mayhem, individuals like Imran Masood are still practicing riot-based politics. Whose getting riots and confusion spread? Either there should be a support or oppose anything logically. Talk sensibly about the bill’s provisions.

During the discussion on the bill, opposition leaders said that BJP is targeting Muslims, that the government is anti-Muslim. What is the basis for this claim? If a criminal is punished and happens to be Muslim, does that mean Muslims are being oppressed?

Is the image of Muslims only as criminals, mafia, and thieves? Should a Muslim not be punished if he has committed a crime? This is where Indian politics is headed today.

JDU leaders going against the tide must realize that this is positive news for Nitish Kumar. He knows that after the recent Lok Sabha elections, even his party leaders accepted that Muslims and Yadavs would not vote for them.

Lalan Singh’s comment in Parliament is clear indication for Bihar elections—that Muslim votes are not required. They don’t need them, says BJP, nor do they require them, according to JDU. They’ll make a government together, and in elections will demonstrate Muslims where they stand.

Just like in 2014 and 2019, Muslim MPs will be reduced to just a few seats. In 2024, there was some confusion, but now it will be like 2014. Nitish Kumar had aligned with RJD because he thought Modi’s dominance was over.

But joining RJD meant getting stuck in a negative image. Lalu Prasad Yadav had to endure years of political isolation because of the “jungle raj” label. He still grapples with it. Tejashwi Yadav became Deputy CM only because of Nitish Kumar.

Similarly, in Bengal, Mamata Banerjee announced that she would repeal this bill. What effect will this declaration have on Bengal elections? Elections are imminent, and this legislation will be operational after the approval of the President.

After it is approved, properties will be mapped out and papers will need to be presented. Those people who uttered the words, “We won’t show papers,” during CAA protests will now need to show them.

During the CAA protests, Mamata Banerjee asserted, “CAA will be implemented over my dead body.” But she could not stop it. She was simply issuing political statements.

Congress leaders are now asserting that when their government comes back to power, they will abolish it. But Hindus need to consider—why do these leaders always engage in Muslim appeasement?

This is the reason that Hindu polarization is growing. Some Hindus are beginning to understand that if BJP is defeated, it will impact development. Development will take place, but it will be slow. But ideological progress will stop.

If BJP is defeated, then Congress will resume appeasement politics. Rahul Gandhi will repeat the same rhetoric. Muslim appeasement will go on. Sonia Gandhi, who goes on about attacks on the Constitution, tends to forget that Rajiv Gandhi reversed the Shah Bano case judgment.

If Congress did amendments, which are against the Constitution, why did Congress conduct amendments in 2013? Why did Congress amend the Act of 1954? They have always based their politics on deceit.

A few Muslim leaders now know that they also require 10-20% Hindu votes to be elected. Their party activists are informing them that they would need to reply to questions put forth by their constituents.

Mamata Banerjee and others claim they will return to power, but BJP’s numbers are growing. The opposition’s seats will shrink, some parties will dissolve, and NDA will expand with leaders like Chirag Paswan and Jayant Chaudhary joining.

In 2029, a new BJP leader may emerge, but Modi’s dominance will continue for now. The opposition will weaken further, and their members in Parliament will decrease.