RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha questioned the content and intent of the waqf bill, suggesting that it be sent back to a select committee of Parliament. Jha accused the government of using the bill as a form of “dog whistle politics” aimed at alienating Muslims from the mainstream. He pointed out incidents such as calls for economic boycott, searching of items inside old mosques, and attacks on places of worship, which he claimed were creating fear within a community that is already marginalised. “In such an environment, the content and intent of your Bill raises questions,” Jha said. “Majority (of a party) in the House is not a wisdom mark, and all of us have come here after being elected by someone.”Jha alleged that government’s actions were attempting to disturb the unity between Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians in India, communities that have historically coexisted peacefully. On the provision for the nomination of non-Muslims to waqf board, he said he would appreciate such provisions being extended to all religious institutions, not just those within the Islamic community. “If you have put this in the Islamic community, then put this in Hindu, Sikh, Christian too… have you decided that all experiments would be with Muslims,” Jha questioned.
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