Muslim Board revives protests against Waqf Act after operation Sindoor lull
New Delhi: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has once again opened a front against the Waqf Act, with large-scale protests.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the protests are part of a nationwide campaign opposing the Waqf Amendment Act.
Though initial dissent was temporarily halted in the wake of Operation Sindoor, the AIMPLB is now reviving its movement, claiming that the new law is another targeted attack on the Muslim minority community.
The upcoming protests are being organised under the ongoing ‘Waqf Bachao, Dastoor Bachao’ (Save Waqf, Save Constitution) campaign. The movement will recommence from Solan in Telangana and is expected to gain momentum in various other regions in the coming days.
“The government is attacking our religious and constitutional rights under the guise of lawmaking,” said Gayas, the Telangana state convener of the AIMPLB. “From triple talaq to azaan to this amended Waqf Act, the government has been systematically targeting the Muslim community,” he alleged during a press briefing.
He further warned, “Women will also take to the streets with us until this anti-minority law is withdrawn. Our protest is a constitutional right and a democratic duty.”
The Telangana Women’s State Wing of the AIMPLB has taken a central role in coordinating the protests. Rehana, an official of the Women’s Wing, expressed her gratitude to the 232 MPs who voted against the bill.
“We protested at Jantar Mantar, but the Narendra Modi government paid no attention. Still, we are thankful to the 81 members of the US Congress who expressed solidarity with our cause,” she said, underlining the international support the movement has received.
Speaking on the issue, Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, the spokesperson for AIMPLB, said, “The new law will render Waqf boards powerless. Waqf lands are not government property. They are religious endowments meant for the welfare of the community. We cannot allow this to go unchallenged.”
Meanwhile, social activists have also voiced concerns over the implications of the amended act. Dr Anwarul Haque, a legal expert on minority rights, said, “This law undermines the fundamental principle of autonomy for religious endowments. It risks turning Waqf properties into tools for political manipulation.”
