Bihar polls: INDIA bloc ally says won't implement Waqf Act if voted to power; promises 'review' of liquor ban

NEW DELHI: CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya on Sunday said that the implementation of the Waqf (Amendment) Act would be blocked in Bihar if the INDIA bloc, of which his party is a member, wins the assembly elections and forms the government.

Bhattacharya, who also promised a "critical review" of the prohibition law introduced by the Nitish Kumar government, echoed the position of INDIA bloc chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav. Tejashwi had said on Sunday that the Waqf (Amendment) Act would be "thrown into dustbin" if the Mahagathbandhan or Grand Alliance comes to power.


Speaking at a press conference where CPI(ML) Liberation released its manifesto, titled 'Parivartan Sankalp Patra' (charter of commitments), Bhattacharya said, "We will ensure that the Waqf (Amendment) Act is not implemented in Bihar. We will ensure the same with regard to all other laws brought in the recent past which seem to be an affront to the federal structure guaranteed under the Constitution."

The Left leader also called the prohibition law, in place since April 2016, "farcical" and said it would be subjected to a "critical review" if the INDIA bloc forms the next government.

He added, "Protection of minority rights, safeguarding of Waqf properties and implementation of the recommendations of the Sachar Committee, prompt action on communal violence and hate speech are some of the important features of our resolution document, which will be implemented if the INDIA bloc is voted to power. We will not implement the Waqf (Amendment) Act if we form the government. This is in our manifesto."

Bhattacharya said it was time to end the BJP-JD(U) government, which has been in power for two decades.

"We will build Bihar on a strong foundation of justice, equality and democracy, so that the benefits of development reach the deprived communities. Every landless and homeless family will get five decimals of land in rural areas and three decimals in urban areas and a pucca house each... this is in our charter of commitment to the people," he said.

He added, "We will ensure government procurement of all crops and guarantee fair prices for farmers and rural labourers. Free electricity for agriculture, water to every farm and modernisation of canals and reactivation of agricultural market committees are some of our commitments to the people of Bihar."

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