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Indian Express
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Why Bihar is witnessing fresh protests against amended Waqf Act
Last Sunday, thousands of people gathered at Patna's Gandhi Maidan to protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. The Waqf Act has been challenged in court, and the Supreme Court in May, after hearing multiple petitions, reserved its decision on the law. So why are protests in Bihar heating up now? We explain. The Patna rally The rally in Patna on June 29 was organised by Imarat-e-Shariah, one of the largest socio-education-religious body of Muslims in India. Imrat-e-Shariah chief Faisal Rahmani, who heads the organisation's operations in Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal, said that though the amendments to the 1995 Waqf law have been passed in Parliament, he does not believe all is lost yet. 'If the Centre can take back the three farm laws because of overwhelming protest from farmers, the same thing can happen with the Waqf amendments. The changes in the new Act are facing heavy resistance in several states,' Rahmani said. The Imarat-e-Shariah says that as the Centre dismissed 300-plus representations about the amendments, it has now decided to summarily reject the amended Act, demanding reinstatement of the Waqf Act, 1995. Rahmani pointed out that is is difficult to furnish documents proving Waqf ownership of old properties, and asked if the Centre would demand similar paperwork for the places of worship of other religions. He called the amendnents an 'attack on brotherhood and citizenry.' Why has the Muslim body chosen Bihar as the main ground for protest? Bihar has over 17 per cent Muslim population, usually believed to be the constituency of the RJD and the Congress. The state goes to polls in a few months, and the Opposition parties are trying to capitalise on the anti-Waqf Act sentiments. Plus, the Imarat-e-Shariah has traditionally had a strong presence in Bihar from the time of its former chief the late Wali Rahmani, who founded the popular coaching programme Rahmani30 in 2008. The organisation has been getting direct and indirect support from non-NDA parties, especially from the RJD. Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav had been the main speaker at the Gandhi Maidan rally, which was very well-attended. What next? Now that it has held a successful rally in Bihar, the Imarat-e-Shariah plans to revisit its district units in Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Odisha to further intensify the protests at ground levels. It also plans to interact with like-minded bodies from UP, Maharashtra and other states to consider a rally at a bigger level, preferably in New Delhi. In the legal challenges to the amendments, some key issues were flagged. The first was the doing away of the concept of 'Waqf by use', which means that land used for Muslim religious or charitable purposes for a long time can be deemed to be a Waqf even if it is not registered as such. The inclusion of non-Muslims in Waqf boards; the District Collector getting powers to decide that a Waqf property is government property; and allowing the applicability of the Limitation Act with respect to Waqf properties — which would prevent the Waqf board from making legal claims, like opposing encroachment, about a property after a certain period had elapsed — are among the other changes being opposed. In April, the Centre assured the Centre that it would pause the doing away of the 'Waqf by use' provision and inclusion of non-Muslims on Waqf boards. Santosh Singh is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express since June 2008. He covers Bihar with main focus on politics, society and governance. Investigative and explanatory stories are also his forte. Singh has 25 years of experience in print journalism covering Bihar, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. ... Read More
Indian Express
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Some BJP MPs also back over Waqf stand': top Muslim body chief on eve of Patna rally
After holding scores of protest meetings against the amended Waqf law across Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal, Imarat-e-Shariah, one of the country's leading Muslim organisations, is set to hold a mega rally in Patna's Gandhi Maidan on Sunday to keep the heat on the BJP-led Centre over the row. Imarat-e-Sharia, headquartered in Patna, has rejected the Waqf amendment legislation, calling for its withdrawal. The legislation was passed by Parliament in April. In May, after hearing multiple petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025, the Supreme Court reserved its decision on the prayer for interim directions. Speaking to The Indian Express, Imarat-e-Shariah head Faisal Rahmani said: 'Though we have been protesting against the draconian Waqf Amendment Bill right from the start, we want to keep the pressure on the Centre. We have been creating awareness among public about how the Centre's Waqf amendments are against several provisions of the Constitution and Supreme Court rulings. It is nothing but a bid to take away our places of worship and heritage buildings. This law undermines the spirit of brotherhood in the country.' Rahmani said: 'We accept the 1995 Waqf law. Going by the amendments to it, how can one disallow Hindus to donate their land for a good cause? Our records show that there are thousands of educational, medical and social organisations and institutions being run on Waqf land, some of which even have more Hindu beneficiaries in comparison to Muslims. Take for example Maulana Mazharul Haque University in Patna, which has 88% Hindu students in its courses.' He said, 'The Centre summarily rejected our more than 300 representations against the Waqf Bill – we are also rejecting their amended Waqf law.' Calling the Waqf law 'irrational', the Imarat-e-Shariah chief also said: 'What will happen when someone asks for proof of Ashokan pillars or a whole lot of our historical monuments cutting across religions? This law aims at creating enmity among citizens… Public is a great force. It had made the NDA-led central government withdraw three farm laws. Patna rally is just the beginning, we will keep the pressure on the Centre.' Asked about timing of the Imarat-e-Shariah's protests ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls, Rahmani said they have been seeking support from all parties. 'We are getting calls of solidarity from various political parties. In fact, some BJP MPs have also been supporting our Waqf stand,' he claimed. In March, during Ramzan, Imarat-e-Shariah had given a call to boycott the 'sarkari' Iftar hosted by Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar in Patna. The JD(U) had termed the Imarat-e-Shariah's boycott announcement 'uncalled for'. This was perhaps the first time that a leading Muslim body had made such a move. The Muslim community accounts for over 17% of Bihar's population and is concentrated in Kishanganj, Araria, Purnia, Katihar and Purnia. Several other districts in the state, including Darbhanga, Madhubani, Patna and Nalanda, also have sizeable Muslim population.
Indian Express
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Some BJP MPs backing our Waqf stand': Top Muslim body chief on eve of Patna rally
After holding scores of protest meetings against the amended Waqf law across Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal, Imarat-e-Shariah, one of the country's leading Muslim organisations, is set to hold a mega rally in Patna's Gandhi Maidan on Sunday to keep the heat on the BJP-led Centre over the row. Imarat-e-Shariah, headquartered in Patna, has rejected the Waqf amendment legislation, calling for its withdrawal. The legislation was passed by Parliament in April. In May, after hearing multiple petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025, the Supreme Court reserved its decision on the prayer for interim directions. Speaking to The Indian Express, Imarat-e-Shariah head Faisal Rahmani said: 'Though we have been protesting against the draconian Waqf Amendment Bill right from the start, we want to keep the pressure on the Centre. We have been creating awareness among public about how the Centre's Waqf amendments are against several provisions of the Constitution and Supreme Court rulings. It is nothing but a bid to take away our places of worship and heritage buildings. This law undermines the spirit of brotherhood in the country.' Rahmani said: 'We accept the 1995 Waqf law. Going by the amendments to it, how can one disallow Hindus to donate their land for a good cause? Our records show that there are thousands of educational, medical and social organisations and institutions being run on Waqf land, some of which even have more Hindu beneficiaries in comparison to Muslims. Take for example Maulana Mazharul Haque University in Patna, which has 88% Hindu students in courses.' He said, 'The Centre summarily rejected our more than 300 representations against the Waqf Bill – we are also rejecting their amended Waqf law.' Calling the Waqf law 'irrational', the Imarat-e-Shariah chief also said: 'What will happen when someone asks for proof of Ashokan pillars or a whole lot of our historical monuments cutting across religions? This law aims at creating enmity among citizens… Public is a great force. It had made the NDA-led central government withdraw three farm laws. Patna rally is just the beginning, we will keep the pressure on the Centre.' Asked about timing of the Imarat-e-Shariah's protests ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls, Rahmani said they have been seeking support from all parties. 'We are getting calls of solidarity from various political parties. In fact, some BJP MPs have also been supporting our Waqf stand,' he claimed. The Muslim community accounts for over 17% of Bihar's population. Santosh Singh is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express since June 2008. He covers Bihar with main focus on politics, society and governance. Investigative and explanatory stories are also his forte. Singh has 25 years of experience in print journalism covering Bihar, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. ... Read More
