Chirag Paswan criticises JUH for boycotting his late father’s Iftaar event. | (Photo Courtesy: X/@ANI)
Union Minister Chirag Paswan raised concerns over the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind’s (JUH) decision to boycott his party’s Iftaar gathering, urging the organisation to reconsider its stance. Paswan pointed to the efforts of his late father, Ram Vilas Paswan, in supporting a Muslim candidate for the chief ministership of Bihar, and criticised Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for rising crime rates and unfulfilled promises regarding minority protection.
In response to the JUH’s decision, Paswan, who had arrived in Patna to oversee preparations for the Iftaar event, expressed respect for JUH chief Arshad Madani’s choice but questioned the actions of opposition parties like the RJD. He suggested that the RJD, which claimed to champion the cause of Muslims, had not done enough to safeguard the community’s interests.
“I have great respect for Madani sahib. I honour his decision. But, I would urge him to reflect a bit on whether our opponents like the RJD, self-proclaimed champions of Muslims, have been able to protect the interests of the minority community,” Paswan stated, as per a report by TOI.
The controversy had begun when Madani announced on social media that the JUH would avoid events hosted by leaders such as Paswan, Nitish Kumar, and Chandrababu Naidu, accusing them of failing to address Muslim issues and for their inconsistent stance on the Waqf Bill.
Paswan Defends His Father’s Legacy
Paswan emphasised that his late father had once risked his political career to back a Muslim candidate for Bihar’s chief minister, referencing the 2005 Bihar elections when his party insisted on a Muslim CM for government support. This political deadlock ultimately led to the assembly’s dissolution, which was later deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
“My late father and political mentor Ram Vilas Paswan had once risked his entire political career to ensure that a Muslim became the chief minister of Bihar,” he remarked, as quoted by TOI.
Paswan Criticises Bihar Government
Paswan also expressed concerns about rising crime rates in Bihar and Nitish Kumar’s inability to address the situation, particularly attacks on Dalits, including the Paswan community. He suggested political motivations behind such incidents as the elections neared but refrained from commenting on Kumar’s governance abilities, despite ongoing speculation about the Chief Minister’s mental health.
Meanwhile, the influential Muslim organisation Imarat Shariah, covering Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha, rejected Kumar’s Iftaar invitation. The group accused the CM of betraying his promises to protect minorities, citing his support for the Waqf Bill, which they believe would worsen Muslims’ socio-economic conditions.
They dismissed the Iftaar event as “tokenism” and criticised Kumar’s alliance with the BJP, which they argued conflicted with his previous secular commitments.
