Nationwide Protests Erupt Against Waqf Amendment Bill After Friday Prayers

New Delhi: Protests erupted across several Indian cities on Friday following Jumu’ah (Friday) prayers, as Muslim organisations and individuals staged demonstrations opposing the Waqf Amendment Bill. Major cities including Mumbai, Kolkata, Patna, and Lucknow witnessed public gatherings, where protestors accused the government of attempting to strip away community rights through legislative changes.

In Mumbai’s Byculla area, a silent protest took place outside the Chishti Hindustani Masjid. Worshippers, many wearing black bands as a sign of dissent, offered prayers without raising slogans. AIMIM leader Waris Pathan was seen joining the demonstrators, who held placards opposing the bill.

In Kolkata, students from Aliah University marched from their campus to Park Circus, carrying banners that denounced the proposed amendments. They alleged that the government was unfairly targeting Waqf properties and demanded an immediate rollback.

While the national capital’s Jama Masjid saw a peaceful Jumu’ah with no protests on-site, the mood among worshippers was one of discontent. Many described the bill as discriminatory and expressed concerns over increasing government interference in religious and charitable endowments.

Similar scenes played out in Patna and Lucknow, where community leaders issued warnings of intensified agitation if the bill is passed. Protestors claimed that the proposed legislation would significantly curtail the Waqf Board’s autonomy and threaten the sanctity of religious trusts.

The Waqf Amendment Bill, which is under scrutiny for its potential to alter the management and ownership of Waqf properties, has become a flashpoint for unrest, with opposition leaders and Muslim organisations urging the Centre to withdraw the bill to prevent further discord and ensure communal harmony.