HYDERABAD: A large-scale protest against the Waqf Amendment Act will take place on Saturday, 26 April at 2 PM at Dharna Chowk, Indira Park, Hyderabad. Organised by a coalition of 35 civil society organisations under the Joint Action Committee (JAC), the Telangana March is expected to draw crowds from across the state, alongside leaders from political, academic, and religious spheres.
At a press conference held on 22 April at the Media Plus Auditorium, JAC convenor Mushtaq Malik announced that this protest will be a historic response to the Waqf Amendment Act, much like the landmark Million March against the CAA and NRC. He warned that the proposed changes to Waqf law could severely endanger long-standing Muslim religious institutions and community rights.
Noted historian Dr Ram Puniyani, Telangana Minister Dr Utham Kumar, K.T. Rama Rao or MP Suresh Reddy, Professor Kodandaram, former MP Mohammad Ali Shabbir, Syed Azhar Abbas, Faheem Qureshi, Aziz Pasha (former MP), Justice Chanda Kumar, Khaleeq Sabir, and Khalid Mubashir Zafar are among those expected to address the gathering.
Malik stated that the Waqf Amendment Act poses a grave threat to the future of madrasas, dargahs, Eidgahs, and cemeteries. “This law is not just about land, it affects our cultural and religious continuity,” he said. He added that inflammatory remarks from political figures, such as recent comments by a BJP MP suggesting Muslim bodies be cremated, indicate a deeply concerning trend, despite the party distancing itself from the statement.
“The Waqf Amendment Act is unacceptable to India’s 25 to 30 crore Muslims,” Malik declared. “Just as we fought for freedom, we will now fight this discriminatory legislation with unity and strength until it is repealed.”
Support for the march has come from several religious and secular organisations, including Jamaat-e-Islami, Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, and Tameer-e-Millat. Malik noted that similar protests are being held across the country, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, highlighting widespread discontent with the bill.
Urging people from all walks of life to attend with their families, he said, “Change requires sacrifice. We must come out, rain or shine, and be counted.”
JAC joint convenor Usman Mohammad Khan confirmed that detailed arrangements have been made to ensure discipline and peaceful participation. He specifically requested that protesters refrain from raising provocative slogans to maintain order.
The press meet also saw the presence of MBT leader Amjed Ullah Khan Khalid, advocate Shakeel, Akbar Hussain, Rashid Khan, and other key community leaders.