'Ek Rahoge to Inshallah Jeetoge': Tejashwi Yadav's Controversial Remarks Stokes Row; BJP Retorts

New Delhi: Tejashwi Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal's leader, sparked a fresh controversy when he called on Muslims saying, "Ek rahoge to inshallah jeetoge" during AIMPLB's protest against the Waqf Amendment Bill.

New Delhi: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav has ignited a new political controversy with his recent remarks, “Ek rahoge to inshallah jeetoge,” aimed at the Muslim community during a protest organized by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) against the Waqf Amendment Bill. The statement, made at the site of the protest in Gardanibagh, Patna, has prompted a sharp backlash, with political opponents accusing Yadav of attempting to inflame communal tensions for political gain.

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The protest took place in Patna's Gardanibagh, where Yadav and RJD President Lalu Prasad Yadav saw a massive participation of several political leaders and groups. It was a part of a nationwide agitation against the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024.

Speaking to reporters, Yadav said, "Our party Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), our leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, despite being ill... are here to support you. We don't care about being in power and we will strongly oppose this non-constitutional bill. We opposed this bill in Parliament and the Assembly too."

"This government is working to divide the country, dismantle democracy, and weaken the Constitution. Some parties, out of greed for power, are supporting this bill. But if we fight unitedly, we will win," ANI reported, quoting Yadav.

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The remarks quickly drew backlash from the BJP. In response to the controversy, BJP spokesperson Shahzad Poonawalla slammed the protests, claiming that Waqf is just an excuse used to stir tensions in the country. "Waqf is an excuse, Muslims have to be instigated, riots have to be instigated, and this is the place of their politics. This Jamaat first instigated people against CAA that if CAA comes, our citizenship will be taken away. Now the same Jamaat says that if Waqf comes, the mosque will be taken away... These amendments were advocated by Muslims themselves... This fight is not Hindu vs Muslim... Today it has been proved that people who talk about the Constitution put Sharia above everything else," he said.

Furthermore, BJP MP and Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Amendment Bill, Jagadambika Pal, accused the AIMPLB of politicising the issue and misleading the Muslim community. "The way AIMPLB is doing politics in the name of Waqf, they are trying to mislead the minorities and Muslims of the country," Pal said.

He pointed out that the bill had not yet been passed, and accused AIMPLB of organizing protests for political reasons despite the absence of any legal change.