Fight not over yet

The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, has sparked a storm of protest from Muslim organisations across the country. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has called the Act unconstitutional, vowing to challenge it legally in the Supreme Court and launch a nationwide agitation to seek a repeal of the Act. At the heart of the opposition lies the inclusion of non-Muslim members in Waqf boards and the Central Waqf Council — seen as a dilution of Muslim control over religious endowments. More troubling, however, is the provision empowering the government to determine the ownership of Waqf properties in the absence of documents, raising fears of arbitrary takeover of historical religious sites.

The board is especially critical of political parties like the JD(U), TDP and LJP (Ramvilas), which, despite their secular claims, voted for the Bill. The AIMPLB also sees the legislation as a deliberate move to weaken Muslim institutions under the guise of reform. It plans to fight it legally and politically, through street-level campaigns and democratic mobilisation. A phased agitation will involve outreach to minority bodies, jurists, Opposition parties and the public at large.

However, the government maintains the changes are aimed at transparency and curbing corruption. Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has defended the move as necessary reform. But many in the Muslim community fear it is part of a broader strategy to erode autonomy of their religious affairs. With Muslims forming 14 per cent of the population, the law has struck a nerve, potentially stoking communal resentment. If the government does not engage in inclusive dialogue, the confrontation could deepen societal divides. The fight, clearly, is not over yet. And this time, it’s not just about property. It's about rights, representation and respect.