Patna (Bihar) [India], April 4 : After his resignation from JD(U) over the party's stand on the Waqf Amendment Bill, Mohammed Kasim Ansari on Thursday criticised JD(U) leader Lalan Singh's speech in the Lok Sabha while supporting the bill and said the latter was spreading "misconception" among Muslims.
"Union Minister Lalan Singh spoke about 'Pasmanda' and listed out qualities of the Bill, but he never took the name of Nitish Kumar. He only mentioned Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and Kiren Rijiju. He was spreading misconception among Muslims, especially Pasmanda Muslims, that the Bill was in their favour...This has hurt Muslims...So, I drafted my letter of resignation overnight and shared with the media as well as people concerned today," Ansari said in a self-made video.
Mohammed Kasim Ansari resigned from the primary membership of the Janata Dal (United) after the party supported the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha.
In his resignation letter to Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar, Ansari said the party's stance on the Waqf Amendment Bill had "deeply hurt" millions of Muslims.
"With due respect, I wish to state that millions of Indian Muslims like me had unwavering faith that you were a true flagbearer of secular ideology. However, that belief has now been shattered. The stand taken by JD(U) regarding the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2024 has deeply hurt millions of dedicated Indian Muslims and party workers like me," Ansari wrote.
He also criticised JD(U) leader Lalan Singh's speech in the Lok Sabha while supporting the bill.
"We are deeply pained by the stance and tone in which Lalan Singh delivered his speech in the Lok Sabha while supporting this bill. The Waqf Bill is against Indian Muslims, and under no circumstances can we accept it. This bill violates several fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution. Through this bill, Indian Muslims are being humiliated and disrespected. Moreover, the bill is also anti-Pasmanda Muslims, something neither you nor your party seem to realize," Ansari mentioned in his letter to Nitish Kumar.
Expressing his disappointment, he said he 'regretted' his years of service to the party.
"I deeply regret having dedicated several years of my life to this party. Therefore, I am voluntarily resigning from the primary membership of the party and all other responsibilities," Ansari added.
On Wednesday, expressing support for the Waqf Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Panchayati Raj and JD(U) leader Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh said that the legislation is aimed at bringing transparency and ensuring the welfare of all sections of the Muslim community.
The Lok Sabha passed the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 after a marathon and heated debate. While members of the INDIA bloc strongly opposed the legislation, the BJP and its allies supported it, arguing that it would bring transparency and enhance the efficiency of Waqf boards.