Indian Muslims stage mass arrests to oppose Waqf Act

Thousands join the “Jail Bharo” campaign in Maharashtra against the Waqf Amendment Act, calling it an assault on religious and civic autonomy. NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — Thousands of Indian Muslims have taken to the streets against the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025, a new law introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government that hands control of Islamic charitable endowments to the federal state — a move activists describe as part of a wider Hindutva campaign to dismantle Muslim autonomy. The first large-scale protest erupted in Jalgaon, Maharashtra, where crowds filled the G.S. Ground for a Jail Bharo Andolan — or “fill the jails” protest — reminiscent of India’s independence-era civil disobedience movements. Police detained more than 2,000 demonstrators before releasing them later that evening, Maktoob Media reported. Muslim organisations say the law abolishes community self-governance and extends Hindutva control over institutions central to Muslim identity and social welfare. “This law interferes not only with our faith but also with our right to self-govern our institutions,” said Mufti Khalid, president of the Tahaffuz Awqaf Committee, which led the protest. “Our ancestors chose to stay in India after Partition because they believed in justice and equality — this movement is to protect that promise.” The amendment gives the federal government sweeping powers to audit, register, and dissolve Waqf boards that were previously run by the community. Legal scholars say it violates Articles 25 to 30 of India’s Constitution, which guarantee the right of religious minorities to manage their own affairs. Rights advocates and community leaders describe the reform as part of the Modi government’s decade-long project to erode Muslim autonomy — from triple talaq and madrasa regulation to the criminalization of personal expression. Together, they argue, these measures form a slow dismantling of India’s secular framework. Political and social groups, including the Bahujan Kranti Morcha, the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction), and the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, joined the Jalgaon protest. “The Waqf system funds education and healthcare for the poor,” said VBA leader Shameebha Bhanudas Patil. “Stripping control from Muslims means stripping the community of self-reliance.” NCP leader Pratibha Shinde called the legislation “anti-constitutional” and “a betrayal of India’s secular foundation.” She added: “When Partition tore the subcontinent apart, Muslims chose this country as their home. They are Indians by choice, not by chance. This law insults that choice.” Community organisers warn that the move will cripple local welfare networks supported by Waqf endowments, which sustain thousands of schools, orphanages, and hospitals nationwide. “When control tightens on Waqf lands, it isn’t only property that’s taken — it’s the lifeline that funds education for our children,” said protest organiser Farooq Shaikh. As protests spread, Muslim leaders say the movement is no longer just about property — it’s about survival under a system where every expression of faith faces scrutiny. “We are the inheritors of a faith that believes in justice,” Mufti Khalid said after his release. “Our resistance will remain peaceful, but it will not stop until this law is repealed”