Bihar Muslim Organisations Boycott Nitish Kumar’s Iftaar Event Over Waqf Bill Support; Congress Urges Not To Mix Festivities With Politics

Bihar’s influential Islamic body, Imarat-e-Shariah, announced it would boycott Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s “sarkari” Iftaar over his government’s support for the Waqf Bill, Indian Express reported.

The boycott, backed by six other Muslim organisations, marks the first such rejection of a state-hosted Iftaar by the century-old body.

Founded in 1921 by Maulana Abul Mohasin Mohammed Sajjad, the Imarat-e-Shariah has long held moral sway among Bihar’s Muslims and is known for guiding the community on Islamic jurisprudence and Shariah law.

Despite the call, several Muslim leaders including some members of the Imarat itself did attend the Chief Minister’s Iftaar on Sunday. Ruling Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] dismissed the boycott as unnecessary.

Voices from opposition parties Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) echoed a more tempered stance, urging separation of faith and politics.

“Politics and festivities should not be mixed,” said Congress Legislature Party leader Shakil Ahmad Khan, while Congress spokesperson Prem Chandra Mishra added, “Attending or not attending Iftaar is one’s individual call.”

Ali Anwar Ansari, former MP and leader of the All India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz, agreed, stating, “It is not proper to link it to Imarat-e-Shariah’s call for a boycott of Iftaar parties.”

However, AIMIM took a firmer line. “Since the NDA government did not consider suggestions from Opposition parties and Muslim bodies on Waqf, sarkari Iftaars must be boycotted by all Opposition parties”, said AIMIM Bihar spokesperson Adil Hasan Azad.