Jamia Millia Islamia students burn copies of waqf bill in fiery protest
#WaqfUnderAttackInIndia
New Delhi: A wave of anger swept through India over the approval of Waqf Amendment Bill by Indian parliament with hundreds of students Jamia Millia Islamia staging a fierce protest and burning copies of the bill to express their anger.
According to Kashmir Media Service, demonstrators at the university’s main gate raised slogans, delivered speeches and eventually burned copies of the bill.
The protest, led by the All India Students Association (AISA) along with several independent student voices, came in response to an “attack on the religious and cultural rights of Indian Muslims.” The Waqf Bill, which passed by the Indian Parliament, has stirred controversy among Muslim communities across the country, who see it as a direct blow to their institutions and heritage.
Calling the legislation an act of communal bias, AISA criticised the Modi government’s move.
“This is not just a bill; it is a targeted assault on Muslim identity and history,” an AISA statement read. “The Waqf properties, which were built and maintained for centuries as places of worship, education, and social support, are being taken away under the guise of management reform. This bill is both unconstitutional and communal,” it added.
Students accuse the government of hiding behind bureaucratic terms while stripping Muslims of their centuries-old endowments and institutions. “This government wants to erase our past and silence our future,” said Fatima Khalid, a postgraduate student. “They claim they are protecting heritage, but in reality, they are grabbing Waqf lands and selling them to corporate lobbies.”
Tensions were further fuelled when the students accused the Jamia Millia Islamia administration of attempting to suppress their right to protest.
