Political Debate Erupts as Old Video of Lalu Yadav Resurfaces in Parliament
A political debate in Parliament was sparked as an old video of Lalu Yadav discussing land encroachments linked to waqf properties resurfaced, leading to opposing views from leaders.
In the midst of a heated debate in Parliament over the Waqf Amendment Bill, an old video of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav has resurfaced, causing a political stir. In the video, dated May 7, 2010, Lalu Prasad Yadav expresses concerns about land encroachments linked to Waqf properties and advocates for stricter laws to prevent it.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, JD-U leader and Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Prasad (Lallan Singh), and HAM(S) founder and Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi cited Lalu's 2010 Lok Sabha speech to highlight the opposition's 'double standards' on the Waqf issue. They pointed out that Lalu's past remarks contradict his current opposition to the amendments proposed by the Narendra Modi-led central government.
The Lok Sabha passed the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 in the wee hours of April 3, with the ruling NDA members defending the legislation as beneficial for minorities, while the opposition criticized it as 'anti-Muslim' during the debate. The bill was passed after all amendments proposed by the opposition members were rejected by voice votes and a division of votes.
Lalu, a prominent opposition voice since 2014, has been battling health issues and was shifted to Delhi's AIIMS for treatment on April 3, the same day Lok Sabha was discussing the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025.
In the video, Lalu Yadav highlights the issue of land encroachments and stresses the need for strict laws to address the problem. He calls for the protection of Waqf properties and warns against the rampant grabbing of prime land for unauthorized construction.
The resurfacing of the video in an election year has sparked debates in Bihar, with RJD spokesperson Ejaz Ahmad clarifying that Lalu had always advocated for protecting Waqf properties and was not in favor of curtailing Waqf board powers as suggested by the current amendment bill.