New Delhi, April 04: Thousands took to the streets in Kolkata, Chennai, and Ahmedabad on Friday following weekly prayers to protest the Waqf Amendment Bill passed by Parliament this week.
In Kolkata, protesters waved the national flag and carried posters reading “Reject Waqf Bill.” Many of the demonstrations were organized by the Joint Forum for Waqf Protection. In Ahmedabad, police were seen forcibly removing elderly demonstrators sitting on the road, as shown in a video shared by ANI.
In Chennai, actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) led statewide protests, with demonstrators in Chennai, Coimbatore, and Tiruchirappalli chanting slogans against the bill. Vijay called the Waqf Bill “anti-democratic” and questioned its impact on India’s secular foundation.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condemned the bill, stating that she would not allow the state’s Muslims to lose their lands. She accused the BJP of trying to divide the country and said a non-BJP government would repeal the law.
Protesters expressed concerns that the bill could be applied retroactively, affecting existing properties. However, Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, backed by Home Minister Amit Shah, told Parliament that the law is prospective in nature.
The bill mandates the nomination of two non-Muslim members to state Waqf boards and the Central Waqf Council. It also requires individuals making donations to certify that they have been practicing Muslims for at least five years.
Parliament passed the bill after nearly 20 hours of debate, with the Lok Sabha voting 288-232 and the Rajya Sabha 128-95. The opposition called it “anti-Muslim,” while the BJP hailed it as a “historic reform.”
Congress MP Sonia Gandhi described the bill as a “brazen assault” on the Constitution and accused the BJP of keeping society in a state of “permanent polarisation.” She claimed it had been “bulldozed” through the Rajya Sabha, leading to BJP demands for an apology.
Rijiju dismissed concerns that the Centre would take over Waqf boards, insisting that non-Muslims cannot interfere in their affairs. He also pointed out that the Rajya Sabha debated the bill for 17 hours and two minutes, while discussions in the Lok Sabha lasted over 12 hours.
The bill now awaits President Droupadi Murmu’s assent to become law.
