Bihar CM's Iftaar invite rejected over secularism concerns

A leading Muslim organization in Bihar, Imarat Shariah, has refused an Iftaar invitation from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. They expressed concern over his support for the Waqf Bill, stating it could harm the economic and educational situation of Muslims. In a letter, Imarat Shariah explained their decision not to attend the Iftaar event at Kumar's residence on March 23. They accused Kumar of going back on his promise of secular rule by aligning with the BJP and backing the controversial Waqf Bill. The group called the Iftaar gathering "tokenism" and said it was meaningless given the government's indifference to Muslim concerns. There has been no response yet from Kumar or his party, the JD(U), which has historically received support from Muslim voters. Kumar's party is currently in partnership with the BJP, ahead of upcoming assembly elections in Bihar. The Waqf Bill 2024, set to be reintroduced in Parliament next week, has sparked protests among Muslims. The bill seeks to revise rules around properties held in trust for Islamic purposes. Critics argue it threatens the ownership rights of historical mosques and other significant properties, which have been used for generations but may lack formal documentation. Many Muslim scholars believe the changes could jeopardize many waqf properties recognized under the previous law.