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NEW DELHI: As the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 received the green signal from Parliament, several groups across India gathered to protest against the Bill.
The Bill, passed in the Rajya Sabha with 128 votes in favor and 95 against, had earlier cleared the Lok Sabha with 288 MPs supporting it and 232 opposing. It now awaits President Droupadi Murmu’s assent to become law.
Since the Bill tabled on April 2 in Lok Sabha, several developments took place in India and some of them are listed below.
Top developments:
Protests in Ahmedabad, Gujarat and Chennai
Several people gathered on roads and staged protests against the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025. In Ahmedabad, the police detained the Gujarat unit president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) along with nearly 40 of its members for holding a protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill.
The demonstrations, began after Friday Namaz, saw large crowds blocking key city roads and raising slogans against the legislation, which has sparked nationwide controversy.
In Kolkata, several Muslims took part in the protest. Several visuals coming from Kolkata show Muslims carrying banners like “We reject Waqf Amendment Bill,” and “Reject Waqf Bill.”
According to the news agency ANI, Muslim organisations, under the banner of the Joint Forum for Waqf Protection, were seen holding protests. The protest also took place in Chennai and Ahmedabad.
Meanwhile, Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam staged protest in Coimbatore. The party members staged a protest in front of the Coimbatore South Tahsildar’s office, demanding the withdrawal of the Waqf Amendment Bill.
The Muslim organisations also held protests against the Waqf Amendment Bill in Bengaluru
.
Waqf war reaches Supreme Court, Congress MP and AIMIM chief Owaisi file petitions against Bill
The Waqf Amendment Bill reached the Supreme Court as AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi and Congress MP Mohammad Jawed filing petitions against its constitutional legitimacy.
The petitioners contend that the proposed changes violate Muslims’ basic rights and impose unfair governmental oversight on Islamic religious trusts.
These legal challenges, submitted through advocate Anas Tanwir, have been initiated before the Bill has received Presidential approval, following its passage in both Parliamentary chambers despite strong opposition.
Jawed, who served on the Joint Parliamentary Committee examining the bill, contends that the amendments contradict Constitutional Articles 14, 25, 26, 29, and 300A, which safeguard equality, religious freedom, minority rights, and property ownership.
“In the Parliament, everyone in the Opposition said that this is unconstitutional… How can you snatch away our right? If you have numbers, it doesn’t mean you get passed anything you want and do something unlawful.” AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi has additionally described the Bill as a “brazen violation” of Muslim community rights.
After JD(U) supports Waqf Bill, five leaders quit party
After the Janata Dal (United) supported the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Parliament, five leaders of the party resigned.
Nadeem Akhtar, Raju Nayyar, Tabrez Siddiqui Alig, Mohammad Shahnawaz Malik and Mohammed Kasim Ansari – had tendered their resignations.
In his resignation letter, JD(U) leader Raju Nayyar stated, “I resign from JD(U) after Waqf Amendment Bill is passed and supported in the Lok Sabha.”
Expressing his strong dissatisfaction, he declared, “I am deeply hurt by the JD(U) voting in favour of this black law, which oppresses Muslims.”
Bill was ‘bulldozed through’ in Lok Sabha: Opposition slams Centre to pass Waqf Amendment Bill
Opposition criticised the Centre to pass the Waqf Amendment Bill. Sonia Gandhi alleged that the Bill was “bulldozed through” in Lok Sabha.”
The bill is a brazen assault on the Constitution itself. It is part of the BJP’s deliberate strategy to keep our society in a state of permanent polarisation,” Sonia had said while addressing party MPs at the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) General Body meeting.
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari termed the Waqf Amendment Bill as “against the basic spirit of the Constitution.”
Speaking to ANI, Tiwari pointed out the alleged irregularities in the bill’s passage, citing Rule 37, which states that the Rajya Sabha’s proceeding time is until 6 pm, but the voting took place at 2.20 am, and the House continued until 4 am.
TMC MP Saugata Roy supported Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s remarks on the Waqf Amendment Bill and said that the legislation will create division in the country.
Speaking to ANI, TMC MP Saugata Roy said, “Mamata Banerjee’s words are right. This Waqf Bill will create further division in the country.”
