Fri Apr 04 12:40:48 UTC 2025: **Thousands Protest Controversial Waqf Amendment Bill Across India**
NEW DELHI, April 5, 2025 – Large-scale protests erupted across India on Friday, following the passage of the controversial Waqf Amendment Bill. Thousands took to the streets in Kolkata, Chennai, and Ahmedabad, expressing their outrage over the legislation which alters the governance of Muslim charitable properties.
In Kolkata, a significant crowd gathered, waving national flags and carrying banners denouncing the bill. Similar demonstrations, organized by the Joint Forum for Waqf Protection, were reported in other cities. However, the protests in Ahmedabad took a more confrontational turn. Police clashed with demonstrators, detaining the state chief of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeem (AIMIM) and 40 of its members.
Chennai also witnessed significant protests, spearheaded by actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, which organized demonstrations in several major cities. Vijay, whose political ambitions are increasingly speculated upon, described the bill as anti-democratic and detrimental to India’s secular fabric. Reports of tension also emerged from Lucknow.
The bill, which has cleared both houses of Parliament and awaits presidential assent, mandates the inclusion of two non-Muslim members on state Waqf boards and the central Waqf council. It also introduces a requirement for donors to certify themselves as practicing Muslims for at least five years.
While Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju insists the changes are prospective and will not affect existing properties, protesters remain concerned about retroactive application. Opposition parties, including the Congress, have vehemently criticized the bill, with Congress MP Sonia Gandhi calling it a “brazen assault on the Constitution.” The BJP has retorted, highlighting the extensive parliamentary debate surrounding the bill.
The protests, particularly in West Bengal ahead of next year’s elections, are expected to further intensify political tensions. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has vowed to repeal the bill should a non-BJP government come to power. The bill’s passage has sparked widespread debate and concern over its potential impact on Muslim communities and India’s secular principles.
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