Waqf Amendment Act: Protests erupt in several states as new law takes effect

New Delhi: Protests erupted across various parts of India on Tuesday in response to the Waqf (Amendment) Act, with demonstrations taking place in West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Chennai, and Bengaluru.

The Waqf (Amendment) Act, passed by Parliament last week, officially came into effect on Tuesday, according to a government notification.

The Ministry of Minority Affairs confirmed that, "In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 (14 of 2025), the Central Government hereby appoints the 8th day of April, 2025, as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force."

Bengal

Baharampur: Violence erupted in Murshidabad district, West Bengal, on Tuesday during a protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, officials reported. The unrest occurred in the Jangipur area, where a large crowd gathered in the afternoon demanding the withdrawal of the controversial legislation.

Protesters allegedly threw stones at the police deployed in the area, and several police vehicles were set on fire. A senior district police officer confirmed the incident, adding that security has been heightened in the region in response to the violence.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on Thursday and by the Rajya Sabha in the early hours of Friday after extended debates in both houses of Parliament. President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the bill on Saturday.

The newly enacted Act aims to improve the management of Waqf properties, which are assets donated by Muslims for religious or charitable purposes. It includes provisions to protect heritage sites, enhance transparency in property management, and streamline coordination between Waqf boards and local authorities. The Act also seeks to safeguard the rights of stakeholders involved.

Jammu-Kashmir Assembly

Chaos erupted in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Tuesday as all parties, except the BJP, staged a protest demanding a discussion on the Waqf (Amendment) Act. In response, two BJP members, Rajiv Jasrotia and Pawan Gupta, entered the Well of the House and staged a sit-in against the stalling of proceedings.

Jasrotia and Gupta protested in front of the opposition benches, holding question papers while marshals struggled to contain members from the National Conference (NC), Congress, and PDP, who were attempting to enter the Well. Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather made several attempts to persuade the protesting members to return to their seats before adjourning the House. Initially, the adjournment was for 30 minutes, which was later extended until 1 pm and ultimately for the entire day.

Speaking to PTI outside the Assembly, Jasrotia, a former minister and two-time MLA, accused the NC of deliberately disrupting the House proceedings to prevent the discussion of private members' bills and resolutions. He also claimed that his questions concerning the relief and rehabilitation of refugees from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) had not been fully answered by the government.

Jasrotia criticised the NC for raising the Waqf law issue, arguing that since the bill had already passed in Parliament and received presidential assent, the House had no mandate to discuss it. He further accused the NC of using religion to mislead the public and urged the Speaker to take stronger action against the protesting members to ensure the smooth functioning of the House.

Gupta, also a former minister and two-time MLA, expressed his frustration over the disruption, noting that important public issues had not been addressed due to the protest. He called for stronger action from the Speaker to restore order and allow for meaningful discussions.

BJP leader Sham Lal Sharma echoed similar concerns, stating that important business had been lost in the past two days due to the ongoing disruption. He criticised the treasury benches for opposing the Speaker's ruling and suggested that the situation appeared to be a "fixed match," given the Speaker's previous actions in evicting BJP members in earlier sessions.

Several private member bills, including one related to the regularisation of unauthorised colonies, were supposed to be presented during the session but will now be delayed for another six months, further frustrating members of the BJP.

Manipur

Protest rallies were taken out on Tuesday against the Waqf Amendment Act in Manipur's Imphal East and Bishnupur districts, officials said.

At Kwakta in Bishnupur district, protesters raised slogans demanding the immediate withdrawal of the Waqf Amendment Act marched for 4 km. Many women wearing burqa also attended the protest march.

Md Nasir, a protester said, "Waqf Act violates the Constitution. It targets the minority Muslims and is a step to break the spirit of a united India. We condemn this Act and government's ploy to usurp our ancestral properties. Waqf belongs to the Ummah."

At Khumidok in Imphal East district, protesters formed a human chain protesting against the Waqf Amendment Act and demanding its immediate withdrawal.

There were also protest rallies in Chennai and Bengaluru against enactment of Waqf Amendment Bill.